NATCA Reaction To NTSB Recommendations On Hudson River Exclusion Zone

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By NATCA
Posted: 09-02-2009

NATIONAL AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS ASSOCIATION (NATCA)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 27, 2009

WASHINGTON – NATCA President Patrick Forrey today had the following reaction to the NTSB’s recommendations on the Hudson River exclusion zone airspace, the location of the Aug. 8 mid-air collision involving a small plane and a helicopter near Hoboken, N.J.:

"The NTSB again has rushed to wrongly blame the air traffic controller in this incident. The board inexplicably has also made its recommendations before the FAA task force examining these issues -- which NATCA is participating on - has done its job to make what is already an incredibly safe airspace even safer. The task force is due to release its report next week. So why the rush? But the bottom line here is that the controller is not responsible for contributing to this tragic accident and he did everything he could do. We cannot provide traffic advisories to aircraft we are not talking to, cannot see on radar or are not a factor at all."