The US Federal Aviation Administration has formally proposed a set of site-specific rules developed by a task force in the wake of a fatal collision between an air tour helicopter and single-engine Piper aircraft over New York's Hudson River on 8 August.
The airspace and operational modifications, developed to better separate aircraft transiting the area with sightseeing operations, will create a uniform ceiling of 1,300ft (396m) in the area for over-flights and make mandatory for all pilots the airspeed, position reporting and lighting procedures that were previously voluntary. The FAA will also develop a training programme for pilots in the area, though the training, as proposed, will not be mandatory.
Source: Flight International
