FINNEGAN AVIATION, LLC, Urges Caution in Restricting Air Traffic over Hudson River
Finnegan Aviation, LLC ©
AUGUST 11, 2009
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Anytime there is a tragic loss of life, there is a natural tendency for people to halt all activity that might cause a repeat of that tragedy. We are seeing that in the calls for restrictions on the uncontrolled flight activity in the relatively busy low-altitude airways over the Hudson River between New York and New Jersey. What we really need is greater vigilance, not greater restriction.
“The national airspace, especially in large metropolitan areas, is home to our interstate highways in the sky,” said Brian Finnegan, president and CEO of Finnegan Aviation, LLC. “We know that with continual use, complacency can sometime set in. We see it on fog-bound interstates in California and late at night behind the wheel of buses carrying families across the country. The answer is not to cease the activity, but rather to do it more safely,” said Finnegan.
Pilots operating under the Federal Aviation Regulations governing Visual Flight Rules (VFR) have an obligation to “See and Be Seen.” That catch-all phrase is virtually the first term a student pilot learns and it is the fundamental obligation of all pilots to remain aware of their surroundings. Unfortunately, that simple phrase belies a tremendous responsibility when there is a lot of traffic and when the skies are hazy or overcast – all frequent occurrences in the New York City area.
We encourage FAA to strengthen the training requirement for the “See and Be Seen” VFR environment around New York and other major metropolitan areas. In addition, FAA should ensure that the radio and radar environment are sufficient for the unique circumstances of that area. As airlines strive to fly more aircraft in closer proximity to one another, FAA is already focused on this problem at high-altitude and in the overall air carrier realm. FAA must widen their focus to include our increasing VFR general aviation traffic into their modern air traffic control model. We must expect our VFR highways in the sky to become both busier and safer. “That takes foresight, investment, and training,” said Finnegan.
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Finnegan Aviation, LLC, is a professional service organization dedicated to helping aircraft operators, maintenance providers, and their employees work as safely, as profitably, and as environmentally sustainable as possible. For more information, visit us online at www.FinneganAviation.com. To contact us, please Brian Finnegan at bff@finneganaviation.com or call 202.549.7617.
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The FAA has just released their revised rules for operation above the Hudson River. Did they get it right? Overreact? Not do enough?
What is everyones opinion?