Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 200; Flight Crew Total 25000; Flight Crew Type 600
Communication Breakdown; Confusion
Other Unwanted situation
General None Reported / Taken
Airspace Structure; Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors
During a sightseeing flight up the New York Special Flight Rules Area/Hudson River Corridor I observed what I consider to be a couple major safety concerns; both involving helicopter traffic. The first and less serious problem was excessive voice traffic on frequency 123.05 as someone appeared to be controlling multiple sight-seeing helicopter arrivals and departures on the frequency; making it difficult to separate out the mandatory position report calls in the corridor. There was also non-professional chatter on the frequency that appeared to come from the helicopter operators. The second problem; and in my opinion a critical safety issue is the flow of helicopter traffic in the corridor. It appears that helicopters flow into the area of the Statue of Liberty at low altitude and then climb to 1300 feet when they leave the area. This causes them to climb vertically through the fixed wing traffic transiting the corridor; many of whom were between 1000 feet and 1300 feet. I recall the accident several years ago that led to the current rules controlling this Special Flight Rules Area. It involved a helicopter climbing vertically and impacting a fixed wing aircraft from below. There is a high probability that this type accident will happen again due to way the sight-seeing helicopters are currently operating!!!I believe 2 steps can be taken to lessen the chances of a similar accident. First; helicopter control transmissions should be done on a discreet frequency; not 123.05. Most important; sightseeing helicopters should NOT routinely climb through the 1000 feet to 1300 feet altitude block since this is the block recommended for aircraft transiting the corridor from one end to the other!
A BE-36 pilot expressed concern about helicopter operations within the New York Special Flight Rules Area (Hudson River transit and sight-seeing corridor). Citing in particular; CTAF frequency congestion and the hazard to traffic watch effects. The use of vertical climbs and descents; from landing and sightseeing sites; into the transient traffic corridor; poses as a potential hazard into the paths of conventional transitory traffic.