This week there was a tragic accident in New York City involving a private airplane and a tour helicopter.  The small private airplane had departed from the small Tettersboro Airport in New Jersey and was using the Hudson River corridor on a journey to the New Jersey Shore.  The helicopter had just taken off from its tour departure pier on the West Bank of Manhattan Island.  The two aircraft collided in midair killing all nine passengers including five Italian tourists.

Such accidents are extremely rare even in the crowded airspace above New York City.  This one will surely cause our government safety officials to reconsider the use of this Hudson River corridor for unrestricted air traffic.