The “Trump TFR” effectively closes down the scenic Hudson River VFR corridor until Inauguration Day, although you can still circle the Statue of Liberty and remain outside the restricted airspace. Courtesy Sam Weigel
EDITOR'S NOTE: The "Trump TFR" over New York City has been amended by the FAA to reopen a portion the Hudson River Corridor on the western side of the river.
The improbable election of Donald J. Trump as the next president of the United States wasn’t the only surprise following the seismic events of Tuesday night.
A Temporary Flight Restriction now rings Trump Tower in midtown Manhattan, the home of the president-elect, from now until the day after Inauguration Day, giving Trump just enough time to pack up his last remaining belongings before moving into his new residence at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
The takeaway for general aviation pilots is that the restricted airspace effectively closes down the Hudson River VFR corridor that extends past the George Washington Bridge along the scenic New York City skyline, a popular sightseeing route.
The TFR went into effect for 24 hours on election night, and then was extended an extra 72 days at about 10:30 a.m. yesterday morning as Hillary Clinton was preparing to deliver her concession speech in New York.
The TFR notam makes exceptions for flight operations into and out of area heliports and the New York Skyports Seaplane Base, as well as those conducted by the NYPD, Secret Service and medevac and firefighting aircraft.
All other aircraft are banned from the TFR, which extends clear across the Hudson and East Rivers from the surface to 2,999 feet.
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