Some are missing your point which you took a while in this thread to get to....Too many GA pilots take their certificate for granted and do not maintain the level of proficiency required to handle emergencies or fly in high traffic/highly congested airspace.
As a private pilot with my own aircraft, I train extensively well beyond what my annual flight check requires. Currently I have a little over 2200 hours in my flight log so I speak from experience.
In my flying time, I experienced 3 serious in-flight emergencies due to equipment failure. All three times my wife and children were on board. Hence, I take my responsibility seriously.
If you were to propose better training and checks for GA pilots who fly in high density areas that may be a way to go but this incident is fairly isolated and is probably a bit of a knee jerk response in the absence of a ongoing problem. This would also be as foolish as proposing restricting the airspace.
A small plane crash generally is similar to a car wreck as far as damage is concerned and fatalities are usually restricted to those on board. Spectacular looking at times but as compared to the auto-wrecks that occurred in NYC today rather tame as to the extent of injuries and fatalities.
The only reason that I propose more restrictions on GA, is that it would be easier than imposing better training standards on GA pilots.
Is it true that the most dangerous time of a GA pilot's "career" is not when they're a student, and not right after they get their private license, but after they get about 150-200 hours? Or right after they get their instrument rating? I've always read that, and I guess it makes sense.
}:-)4
FWIW, I believe that student pilots are forbidden from the Class B airspace. I am not sure if that would include the VFR exclusions - it's been a while since I was a student pilot.
The restriction on students in the Class B is understandable given the communication requirements. I can just imagine a 25 hour post-solo student trying to negotiate a Bravo clearance w/ a NY controller.
But a post-solo student has demonstated (atleast a few times) the ability to t/o and land - significantly more taxing of the skills than missing skyscrapers.