The rules of VFR flight dictate “see and be seen”, however, the pilots of the two aircraft which collided over the Hudson River very likely did not see each other. It is the pilots’ responsibility to look for and avoid other aircraft, but with no Air Traffic Control or Flight Information Service being provided there, [...]
The rules of VFR flight dictate “see and be seen”, however, the pilots of the two aircraft which collided over the Hudson River very likely did not see each other. It is the pilots’ responsibility to look for and avoid other aircraft, but with no Air Traffic Control or Flight Information Service being provided there, the defenses against such a tragedy are seriously eroded.The tragedy appears to be a clear case of the much documented “low-wing/high-wing” situation.
The low-winged Piper Saratoga departed Teterboro Airport and was heading to the Hudson River flight corridor – and eventually out the mouth of New York Harbor toward the Jersey shore. As the aircraft reached the river, the pilot banked steeply to the right to begin hugging the west bank of the Hudson.
Simultaneously, the Eurocopter departed the 30th Street Heliport bound for a sight-seeing tour of New York Harbor, climbing and turning left to fly down to the Statue of Liberty.
As they converged, the pilot of the Saratoga would have been in the left front seat of his plane looking to his right, while the Eurocopter pilot would have been in the right seat looking left. The low wing on the Saratoga would have completely obscured the Eurocopter, while the Eurocopter’s rotors would have obscured the pilot’s view of the Saratoga.
The average daily VFR traffic in the vicinity of the spot where collision took place is 225 and all these movements are below 1100 feet. Was this a freak accident or an incident waiting to happen?
Eurocopter - N401LH
Piper Saratoga - N71MC
I wonder if VFR TFC using these corridors are required to maintain a listening watch on any particular frequency and, broadcast their positions and intention at intervals. Or, are there any procedures governing operation along these corridors to prevent such incidents? At least this would keep pilots aware of each other’s operation and intention. If there are such procedures in place then it is the pilots’ responsibility to ensure that these are adhered to, at all times. This is truly a tragedy.
There is a requirement to maintain a listening watch on the frequency. In fact, reports indicate that a pilot flying for the same Eurocopter tour operator saw the two aircraft approaching each other and attempted to warn the chopper pilot, but he either did not hear the warning, or got it too late.
Aviation is a fail safe environment and from time to time incidents and accidents like this indicates a hole in this fail safe net. Aboard the Eurocopter would be a Traffic Collision Avoidance System(TCAS) installed, the TCAS provides a moving layout of aircraft within the distance preset by the flight crew, TCAS inform the crew of the Altitude and Orientation of other aircraft within the aerospace of the preset distance. From this we all can see the fail safe mechanism which is already in place to prevent such catastrophe.
The answers and explanations for such incidents may be alarming and we as aviators need to remember Murphy’s law – If something can go wrong it will.
Mark Wilkinson
The low wing high wing situation is very understandable. But the P.I.C. has total control over each of their aircraft. There is no excuse for such an accident. Also at an uncontrolled airfields, pilots must state their position and their intentions.