Small Aircraft
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 50; Flight Crew Total 10000; Flight Crew Type 200
Confusion
Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors; Manuals
I was doing a flight in the New York SFRA Hudson River Exclusion Zone on this date. I had studied the procedures on the NYC TAC VFR Planning Chart on Foreflight. I entered the SFRA to the north of the Alpine Tower and made the required radio calls on the CTAF frequency (123.05). I did the flight at 1200 MSL. Once I arrived at the Statue of Liberty; I made two orbits around it and then proceeded north to exit the SFRA at the Alpine tower. It wasn't until after the flight that I ran across another document online (https://www.faasafety.gov/files/gslac/courses/content/79/775/kneeboard.pdf) that mentioned that there were two types of operations in the SFRA and they each had different altitudes that must be followed. They were classified as:Transient Operations (1;000 up to 1300) - Aircraft transiting the Hudson River Exclusion from end to end without intending to significantly change heading; altitude or airspeed.Local Operations (Surface up to 1000) - Any aircraft within the Hudson River Exclusion that is conducting an operation other than overflying.According to these definitions; I was conducting a 'Local Operation' (due to the fact that I entered and exited at the same point and maneuvered around the Statue) and should have remained below 1000. I thought that by studying the NYC TAC VFR Planning Chart on Foreflight that I had all of the necessary information. If the additional information that I read after the flight was correct; I was flying at the wrong altitude. If this is true; I would like to suggest that a clarification of these altitudes be added to the Planning Chart so as to avoid confusion from others. In the future; I will follow the different altitudes based on my intended type of operation.
GA pilot reported flying at the wrong altitude during a flight flown in the vicinity of the Statue of Liberty. He recommended the NYC TAC VFR Planning Chart be modified to include the FAA altitude restrictions listed on the NY Class B Airspace Hudson River Exclusion SFRA.