Question of the Week: Regulating the Hudson VFR Corridor

Question of the Week: Regulating the Hudson VFR Corridor: "Saturday's deadly midair collision over the Hudson River has spurred calls for closing the VFR corridor or at least tightening up on regulations. We'd like to hear what you think.Plus: Last week, GAMA released some sobering numbers about aircraft orders (and cancellations) for the current year. In response, we asked AVweb readers to predict when we might see the bottom of the current downturn for aviation. Click through to see how they answered last week's Question."

My 2 cents as with respect to VFR traffic.

I flew New Orleans airspace after Katrina and there was zero (0) air traffic control in what could have been labled the busiest helicopter operating area in the world! Crazy, "I got the 20 A/C on the left you got the 20 A/C on the lets do the best we can to spot the ones below us!" Absolutely crazy and not a single mid air collision. Remaining alert in the cockpit is the best defense against a collision in a low environment. Past accidents (collisions) in controlled airspace, IE runways, and other low areas is proof positive that even with the best of intentions accidents do and will happen.

I have also flown the Hudson River corridor low in a helicopter and it is difficult picking traffic against the skyline. Pilots need to be very aware of their position and ensure they are visible, IE nav and landing lights on! However VFR along the river is a beautiful run if you ever get a chance to do it. Almost as awesome as VFR through the nations capitol. However that is gone as is VFR to Meigs field Chicago!