Flying down the Hudson River

I agree with everything else posted, except in a fixed wing, I circle
the statue @900' and stay well about the helo's. They don't usually
go above 500'. Stay tight when on the West side, as the Class B goes
down real quick.


On Sun, 21 Mar 2004 21:11:01 GMT, "Peter Gottlieb"
wrote:

Make sure to have the NY terminal area chart. Treat the river like a road,
keep to the right (Northbound on Manhattan side, Southbound on Jersey side).
Frequently self-announce your position on 123.05 and watch out for sometimes
heavy tour helicopter traffic, especially around the "Lady." If you circle
her, do it at 500 feet and go in the same direction as the helis. They are
pros and know what they are doing but can't read your mind, so when you get
close to the lady announce your intentions; now is not the time to be shy on
the radio. When coming in from the North be at 1000 feet by the Alpine
tower and that is also your first reporting point. Keep your speed at 90
kts and for this trip have every light and strobe on that you have. Keep
your head on a swivel for other traffic. Stay over the river, but close to
the sides. For crossing the bridges you may want to be more in the middle
as the towers are somewhat high. Monitor 121.5 on comm 2. And make
absolutely sure to get a briefing for any last minute TFRs (sporting,
whatever). A Saturday with nice weather will tend to be a busy time there,
but if you are careful it is quite safe.

Peter

"SeeAndAvoid" wrote in message
news
I'll be flying out of White Plains, NY (HPN) to Allentown, PA (ABE) in
early
June and would like to fly down the Hudson River to the Statue of Liberty
then west. It looks like the Class B and TEB's Class D would allow this
at
1000' MSL without any clearance or approval, am I right in this
assumption?
Anyone done in recently, especially after 9/11? The tops of those bridges
look mighty tall, like less than 500' clearance flying below the floor of
the Class B. Is this a busy and heavily traveled corridor? It'll be a
Saturday.
Thanks, Chris