I recently received my updated New York Helicopter Route Chart, and this reminded me to write about a recent trip down the Hudson River Corridor in an R-44. This route included the Hudson, the East River, and our destination - New Jersey. It was a great time to brush up on the Hudson Route and get more famliar with the area. Our 135 charter routes will include New York, so we were really getting some information on which routes were more productive to bring passengers back and forth between the city and New England.
Before reading this, it’s wise to become familiar with the recent changes to the Hudson and East River SFRA (Special Flight Rules Area). Rather than repeating what’s already been written, I’ve included a few links.
http://www.aopa.org/advocacy/articles/2009/091117hudsonsfra.html - AOPA writeup
https://www.faasafety.gov/files/gslac/courses/content/79/776/kneeboard.pdf - Reference Card
http://faasafety.gov/files/helpcontent/Courses/NY%20Course/index.html - Training Course
What I have done is included some pictures of the flight in the hopes of providing some familiarity when flying the Hudson Route. If you want to use the images, feel free. If you need larger versions, email me and I’ll send them. These are here to help people, not to gain credit for the people taking the pictures.
Tappan Zee Bridge
Tappan Zee Bridge
Our route started through Central Connecticut and onto the Hudson at the Tappan Zee Bridge.
Tappan Zee Bridge Closeup
A closeup shot of the Tappan Zee Bridge. This is still before the reporting points, but it’s such a nice bridge it needs to be included in this entry.
The Palisades (Near Alpine Tower)
This is a shot of the Palisades which is near the Alpine Tower. I didn’t get a pic of the Tower due to the lighting. It’s there - you can’t miss it!
George Washington Bridge (GWB)
After the Alpine Tower comes the GWB. Here’s another shot of the bridge.
GWB Closeup
Next comes the Intrepid. You can see it in this picture along the docks.
The Intrepid Aircraft Carrier
Manhattan
The above Manhattan pic is not a reporting point, just a nice downtown pic. The next pic is the Goldman Sachs Building looming in the shadows. Reporting point “Goldman Sachs”.
Goldman Sachs
The “Goldman Sachs” reporting point is just prior to the former “Colgate” clock. This next picture needs no introduction. What a great day.
Statue of Liberty
Verrazano Bridge
The Vz reporting point as seen from the North.
VZ Reporting Point
Another shot of the VZ Bridge. Report as “VZ”.
Manhattan from the South
The East River is visible on the right with the Brooklyn bridge in the foreground.
Intrepid Northbound
On the return trip we took a detour up the East River, but didn’t get any worthwhile shots. That will be in a future entry. It did prove to be better lighting heading North. Here’s a pic of the Intrepid from the helicopter.
GWB
After passing the George Washington Bridge northbound, we chose the coastal route home. This route took us outside the LGA Class B surface area, between the HPN Class D (you just graze the Class D so call HPN), and back up the CT coast. We turned inland staying east of Bradley, up through Connecticut and Massachusetts. Heading north we stayed west of Norwood Airport toward our destination of Lawrence, MA. Overall a great flight and a great helicopter experience into the Hudson River Corridor. As always, it’s great training at North Andover Flight Academy, the Robinson Helicopter training center in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Train outside the pattern!
As always, we have many people to thank for these entries. Your efforts are appreciated.
