FAA to Change Hudson River Airspace Rules

Federal aviation officials say they will change airspace rules over the Hudson River at New York City after a deadly crash last month.

The Aug. 8 collision between a small plane and a tour helicopter killed nine people, including five Italian tourists, and focused attention on the river corridor. It is used by many small aircraft.

The new rules include requiring pilots to tune their radios to specific frequencies and restricting speeds.

Aircraft between 1,000 and 1,300 feet (305 and 396 meters) would use the same radio frequency as those flying below 1,000 feet (305 meters).

"The FAA took a first step but more has to be done," said Sen. Charles Schumer, a Democrat, in a statement. "Not to require flight plans and nor have controllers in charge of airspace below 1,000 feet means that this plan is insufficient. We urge the FAA to go back to the drawing board and put in the necessary additions to keep the corridor safe."

Meantime, Rep. Jerrold Nadler, also a Democrat, says that the FAA is ignoring recommendations of impartial panels.

"At a minimum, the FAA must, on all aircraft that seat less than ten people, require the installation of the Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS-II - a device that alerts that another aircraft is getting too close), and a Mode C Transponder (a device that sends out a constant signal announcing a craft's location)," Nadler said, in a statement. "Additionally, the FAA must track by radar all aircraft below 1100 feet in this corridor, and if that is not feasible then we must ban those flights."

The crash occurred between a low level where visual flight rules apply and a higher altitude where air traffic controllers guide pilots.