Sightseeing Regulations

A few months back, I was on an airline flight coming home to LGA in the
most clear day I had seen in months! (Haze in NY is quite common.) The
plane flew over Lady Liberty and right up the Hudson River at what had to
be about 3000'. It's a pretty standard approach, and happens frequently,
but it's not always so low, and not always on such a beautiful, clear day
with a perfect view.

Anyway, I tried to point out the view to as many passengers near me that I
could, but the pilot remained silent about it.

When I was deplaning I said to the pilot that I thought that on such a
perfect VFR day he should announce the wonderful view over the intercom,
and he said that he's not allowed to talk on the intercom below 10,000'.

Has anyone heard of such a thing?

I didn't really think much of it until the night before last when I came
home from St. Louis. This time, the pilot was kind enough to point out the
statue and the incredible view of NYC on approach. So obviously this is not
an FAA thing.

Seems to me like flying used to be exciting and pilots would feel like
tourguides as they described their routes and pointed out the wonders of
the world to their passengers as they landed in different cities. And I
guess there are still some "old school" pilots who still feel that way.

But I think it's a shame that this it's all taken for granted now.
Certainly visitors (and even residents who have circled "the Lady" at 500')
appreciate the beauty of the sights. Almost every time I fly home through
LGA and we do that approach, if the weather is clear, and people catch a
glimpse, fingers start to point and people from the other side of the plane
try to sneak a peak too.

Why would some wise-ass pilot try to pass off his own ambivalence as some
reg or policy?


"This country needs an enema."