East River VFR corridor

The East River VFR corridor, formally known as the East River class-B exclusion, is a section of airspace above the East River in New York City in which flight is permitted under Visual Flight Rules (VFR). Formerly, this could be done without being in contact with Air Traffic Control. Pilots operating within the corridor were expected to self-announce on a designated frequency of 123.075 MHz, and to maintain appropriate separation visually.

After Corey Lidle's fatal crash, the FAA imposed a TFR requiring all pilots of fixed-wing aircraft to obtain permission from LaGuardia's air traffic control tower for flight in the East River VFR corridor between the southern tip of Governor's Island and the northern tip of Roosevelt Island. The pilot must remain in contact with air traffic control while in the exclusion. An exception is granted for seaplanes landing or departing from the New York Skyports Inc seaplane base located in the East River. Technically, this area remains a VFR corridor and outside of Class B airspace. However, the TFR imposes many of the requirements of entering Class B airspace. Significantly, cloud clearance and visibility requirements are not changed.

A major difference between the East River VFR corridor and the Hudson River VFR corridor is that the Hudson River route allows VFR flight along the entire length of Manhattan, but the East River corridor ends southwest of LaGuardia airport. For this reason, helicopter traffic in the East River VFR corridor is the norm, and fixed-wing pilots tend to avoid it, as it requires a very tight turn-around in order to avoid continuing flight into the LaGuardia airspace.

References

* [http://www.salon.com/tech/col/smith/2006/10/20/askthepilot205/index_np.html Ask the pilot : Should New York's famous East and Hudson River flyways be closed to small aircraft?] by Patrick Smith in Salon.com