New York TRACON
New York Terminal Radar Approach Control
This is the third page of information for flying light aircraft on the popular sightseeing route of the Hudson River, passing through the metropolitan New York City area. If you've come here directly via a search engine, you may wish to check out the First Page with basic pre-requisite information prior to reading this page.
After taking a look at this page, if you have information you think I should add, please just let me know via my Contact page.
What Does the NY TRACON Do?
New York Terminal Radar Approach Control handles air traffic inbound and outbround from NYC area airports.
The following information is not only unofficial, but can and likely does change without notice. However, these general likelihoods can help you know what to expect. However, just like anything in aviation, you have to be able to get very flexible with your plans. The generalities below are what generally would happen, (hence the term "generalities"), but try not to be too upset if other things occur.
Coming from the South towards NYC
If asking for flight following/Class B clearance up the Hudson from around the Colts Neck (COL) VOR and perhaps calling JFK approach, (127.4), you should be aware lots of VFR pop ups ask for this, which is - of course - just fine. But be aware that based on the way the airspace sectors are set up, at this point you can get a squawk, (i.e. get "tagged up"), however you'll likely be told to remain below the Class B floor in any case.
A bit later, however, it will be up to the EMPYR sector, (which is LGA approach on 127.3), which will give you - or not - actual Class B clearance.
At this point your radar blip gets its data block tagged as "HUD" for Hudson or "NYC" if otherwise touring areas over NYC. An exception might be if you say you are landing at Stewart, (SWF) and want to go up the river. Even so, JFK will rarely be the ones to give the Class B clearance up the Hudson. If headed out East towards Long Island you may get Class B clearance, likely at 3,500 or 5,500 direct JFK.
If heading to Westchester Country airport, you may be taken up the East side of Manhattan at similar altitudes. Possibly told Direct Canarsie, (CRI), VOR for example. This can be tricky for the simple reason that Canarsie can be a hard to pick out VOR. It's 112.3 and just a few miles West of the JFK VOR. If your chart is folded along the map creases, you may find it hard to pick out the VOR box.
If you're using fancy GPS or GPS coupled communications/nav gear, you should be able to use a selection or recall button to get nearest VORs and be able to tune or go GPS direct fairly quickly.
Top Mistakes Pilots Make
* VFR Pilots launching in marginal conditions and ending up potentially needing more than their fair share of ATC services.
* Not paying enough attention listenting for their callsign.
More Info on the Airspace
| N90 - New York TRACON |
To learn more about the NY TRACON and the airspace volume under its control, visit the offical site for the NY TRACON, also known as N90 from an FAA facility perspective. |
| Washington ARTCC |
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