AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2014 - 32

PILOT BRIEFING
|

AERIAL ADVENTURES

|
VIEW THE

VIDEO

VIDEO EXTRA

This online video details how
to fly the New York corridor.
Second in a series.

WHAT LOCAL
PILOTS KNOW:

New York state of mind
Flying the nation's biggest skyline is a wonderful experience
B Y I A N J. T W O M B LY
IF YOU'VE taken time to assem-

ble an aviation bucket list, odds
are that flying the Hudson
River at skyscraper heights is
on it-for good reason. Flying
alongside the biggest city in
the United States is a special
experience. Tourists may be
able to pay a helicopter sightseeing company for something
similar, but there is nothing
quite like being able to give a
personal tour of the Big Apple.
Although sometimes saturated
with traffic, this flight is otherwise quite easy with only a
little planning.
New York is one of the few
air tours in the country that

has some regulatory requirements, thanks to a high-profile
accident a few years ago. The
East River, the narrow tidal
strait that delineates Long
Island from Manhattan, is
more limited. It's only open
with ATC permission.
Mo st p i l o t s t a ke t h e
Hudson River, the major artery
that separates New York and
New Jersey. It's a can't-miss
landmark that paints an easy
road to follow from Staten
Island to White Plains, the two
traditional entry/exit points for
those wanting the full tour.
Invest in a New York
Terminal Area Chart to study

the few particulars that must
be followed on this flight. It
spells out the required air-toair frequency, the six required
reporting points, maximum
airspeed, and suggested altitude. Then it's time to go on
the FAA's website (www.faa
safety.gov) and take the New
York Special Flight Rules Area
course.
Most important is to
remember that the river route
is popular for a reason, and
there will likely be lots of other
aircraft. So keep an eye out and
enjoy the view.

Multiple routes are
available. Although flying
under the Class B airspace
is the most frequent trip,
controllers are accommodating, and will clear other
altitudes. The FAA helped
facilitate this by creating
the "Skyline Route," which
goes through the Class B.
Let ATC work for you
by requesting clearance through special
areas. One pilot says that
LaGuardia Tower will clear
you over Central Park at
1,500 feet, then down
the East River to meet the
Hudson. With no mandatory reporting requirements, it's potentially less
stressful.
Check notams because
New York is host not only
to a lot of professional
sporting events, but also
many high-profile political
events, such as United
Nations summits. Major
TFRs are common.

EMAIL ian.twombly@aopa.org

WHAT YOU'LL SEE
Flying in from the south, the first
major landmark and reporting
point is the Verrazano-Narrows
Bridge, which is the longest
suspension bridge in the country.
It connects Staten Island and
Brooklyn.

32 | AOPA PILOT June 2014

Look up and to the left and you'll
find Lady Liberty. It's possible to
circle the Statue of Liberty. Refer to
the chart for details.
The southern end of Manhattan
looms large, including the new One
World Trade Center, Chrysler

Building, Empire State Building,
and all of New York's other great
structures.
Spend too much time looking in
the city and you'll miss the fantastic
Intrepid aircraft carrier museum,
with much of the collection visible

on the deck of the ship.
Look north and you'll see the
second bridge on the tour, the
George Washington Bridge, or
GWB as some locals call it. It's the
world's busiest bridge, carrying approximately 102 million cars a year.
http://www.faasafety.gov http://www.faasafety.gov
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2014

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2014
