Narrative:

On may/xa/00, I was operating a banner tow aircraft in the hudson corridor. I was banner towing above the hudson river at an altitude of between 500-550 ft AGL. I was towing mid-river as well as along the new york city shoreline. I was self-announcing (hudson river unicom 123.05) banner towing in progress, giving position reports constantly and announcing all turns including which direction (left or right) the turn would be made. I first banner towed down by battery park (following the above procedures) and communicated back and forth with both helicopters and other aircraft in the area. I then banner towed up river to the area of the uss intrepid, continuing to give position reports. While passing the 33RD st heliport, I was advised (on 123.05 unicom) that I was in violation of the heliport's airspace (by heliport unicom). They informed me I was in violation 'because it is illegal to banner tow at a heliport.' I was at 500+ ft AGL and at least 1000-1500 ft away from the shoreline and the heliport. I was verbally harassed by heliport unicom and then by several helicopters sent out to get my n-number. My n-number was then 'announced' over and over again on 123.05 and informed that they were filing a complaint with teterboro FSDO. I was banner towing in compliance with my banner waiver. I was flying safely and never violated anyone's airspace. I am filing this report to go on record as such.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A BANNER TOWING CITABRIA COMMERCIAL PLT IN THE HUDSON RIVER CORRIDOR IS CHALLENGED BY UNICOM OPERATOR AND HELI PLTS FLYING FROM MIDTOWN HELIPORT.

Narrative: ON MAY/XA/00, I WAS OPERATING A BANNER TOW ACFT IN THE HUDSON CORRIDOR. I WAS BANNER TOWING ABOVE THE HUDSON RIVER AT AN ALT OF BTWN 500-550 FT AGL. I WAS TOWING MID-RIVER AS WELL AS ALONG THE NEW YORK CITY SHORELINE. I WAS SELF-ANNOUNCING (HUDSON RIVER UNICOM 123.05) BANNER TOWING IN PROGRESS, GIVING POS RPTS CONSTANTLY AND ANNOUNCING ALL TURNS INCLUDING WHICH DIRECTION (L OR R) THE TURN WOULD BE MADE. I FIRST BANNER TOWED DOWN BY BATTERY PARK (FOLLOWING THE ABOVE PROCS) AND COMMUNICATED BACK AND FORTH WITH BOTH HELIS AND OTHER ACFT IN THE AREA. I THEN BANNER TOWED UP RIVER TO THE AREA OF THE USS INTREPID, CONTINUING TO GIVE POS RPTS. WHILE PASSING THE 33RD ST HELIPORT, I WAS ADVISED (ON 123.05 UNICOM) THAT I WAS IN VIOLATION OF THE HELIPORT'S AIRSPACE (BY HELIPORT UNICOM). THEY INFORMED ME I WAS IN VIOLATION 'BECAUSE IT IS ILLEGAL TO BANNER TOW AT A HELIPORT.' I WAS AT 500+ FT AGL AND AT LEAST 1000-1500 FT AWAY FROM THE SHORELINE AND THE HELIPORT. I WAS VERBALLY HARASSED BY HELIPORT UNICOM AND THEN BY SEVERAL HELIS SENT OUT TO GET MY N-NUMBER. MY N-NUMBER WAS THEN 'ANNOUNCED' OVER AND OVER AGAIN ON 123.05 AND INFORMED THAT THEY WERE FILING A COMPLAINT WITH TETERBORO FSDO. I WAS BANNER TOWING IN COMPLIANCE WITH MY BANNER WAIVER. I WAS FLYING SAFELY AND NEVER VIOLATED ANYONE'S AIRSPACE. I AM FILING THIS RPT TO GO ON RECORD AS SUCH.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.