NEW YORK, Oct. 11 (UPI) -- New York City politicians say they're angry about a new federal aviation rule that allows tourist helicopters in a restricted corridor over the Hudson River.
The deal, reported exclusively Monday by the New York Post, allows tour operators to fly helicopters through airspace deemed restricted after nine people died in a 2009 midair collision, the newspaper said.
City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Assemblyman Dick Gottfried and state Sen. Thomas Duane wrote Monday to the Federal Aviation Administration, calling the new rule an outrage.
"This regulation was put in place after a tragic accident in 2009 when a midair collision between a plane and a tourist helicopter cost nine people their lives" the letter said. "We fail to understand why you would take this action, and why you would do so without any public notice of hearings."
U.S. Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., said the FAA decision "is unbelievably bizarre and irresponsible" and called for a total ban on tourist helicopters, the newspaper said.
