Philadelphia TV station launches LongRanger 4 ops
28-Feb-13
WCAU-TV, the NBC owned and operated station in Philadelphia, has rolled out a newly-added LongRanger 4 (see full story). HeliHub.com editor note – this is a 2004-build aircraft, operated by Helicopters Inc
US Helicopters takes delivery of an AS350B2 for Chicago TV station
Source: American Eurocopter, 01-Feb-13
American Eurocopter today announced delivery of a new AS350 B2 AStar aircraft to U.S. Helicopters, Inc. U.S. Helicopters, Inc. based in Marshville, N.C., is one of the largest operators of electronic news gathering helicopters in the country. The company has served dozens of major television stations located in cities in most of the lower 48 [...]
John D Silva – TV helicopter pioneer – dies at 92
Source: LA Times, 10-Dec-12
John D. Silva was the chief engineer for KTLA-TV in 1958 when he outfitted a helicopter with a TV camera and changed television news coverage forever. (see full story)
ThrottleNet creates new mobile app for Helicopters Inc
Source: ThrottleNet, 30-Oct-12
ThrottleNet announces they have created a new mobile application for Helicopters Inc. based in Cahokia, Illinois. Helicopters Inc. specializes in the leasing of news gathering helicopters for television and radio stations nationwide. The new mobile app is designed for iPad use by pilots and administrative personnel. It enables pilots to create manifests from any remote [...]
Citizen TV acquires first news helicopter in Kenya
Source: Kenya Daily News, 20-Oct-12
Royal Media Services has become the first Kenyan media house to acquire a news helicopter – although the AS350 shows no signs of any externally mounted cameras! (see full story)
PHPA establishes unprecedented TV helicopter pool
Source: PHPA, 30-Sep-12
Earlier this year, the PHPA began a dialogue with the Southern California RTNA (Radio & Television News Association) regarding this weekend’s I-405 bridge demolition, dubbed Carmageddon II. Specifically, the PHPA was interested in getting the media outlets to reduce the helicopter noise over the freeway closure this year. A similar event last year generated noise [...]
Queensland Police rely on TV helicopter footage in chase
Source: Brisbane Times, 13-Apr-12
At some stages of the chase, officers in the central police communications centre were forced to rely on footage of the chase being broadcast live via media helicopters in order to relay the location of stolen cars to police on the ground. (see full story). Short on proper equipment to do the job, perhaps?
Helinet Aviation faces eviction order at Van Nuys
Source: Los Angeles Times, 12-Apr-12
Pentastar Aviation, who own the lease on the land occupied by Helinet, instructing Helinet to move its helicopters from the ramps where they sit ready to depart – for time-critical EMS and ENG work. When it didn’t comply, Helinet received another letter threatening eviction and legal proceedings. Helinet owner Al Purwin, previously the lease owner, [...]
Robinson revises need for shielded aux fuel pump in ENG R44s
Source: Rotorcorp, 10-Apr-12
Due to continued supply shortages and spotty availability, Rotorcorp recently checked on availabilty of the KI-206-4 Auxillary Fuel Pump for use in ENG aircraft on a customer order. We were advised by our Customer Service Representative that the shielded KI-206-4 is now being replaced by the non-shielded KI-206-3 version of the pump. Robinson Technical Service Representative [...]
ANH adds two AS365N3+ Dauphins for newsgathering
Source: Eurocopter, 22-Mar-12
Eurocopter Japan has received an order for two new AS365 N3+ Dauphins from All Nippon Helicopter (ANH) to replace two rotary-wing aircraft from its existing fleet for use in electronic newsgathering missions on behalf of Japanese national broadcaster, NHK. ANH, which is an operator for NHK in news missions, owns a fleet of 12 Eurocopter [...]
Angel City of Los Angeles buys Geneva Aviation’s New ENG Systems for their two AS350B2s
Source: DART Helicopter Services, 14-Feb-12
DART Helicopter Services is pleased to announce that their subsidiary partner Geneva Aviation has been selected by Angel City Air of Los Angeles to provide new Electronics News Gathering systems and completions for two AS350B2 Helicopters. Angel City Air has selected Geneva Aviation’s Audio, Video, Microwave and Electrical Systems for two new aircraft. These two [...]
Global Winnipeg Morning News holds helicopter name contest
Source: Global Winnipeg, 05-Feb-12
Global Winnipeg has the only Television News Helicopter in Winnipeg and we want your help in naming it. Prize: A tour over Winnipeg in the Global Winnipeg News Helicopter and a meet and greet with Eva Kovacs and “bragging rights” on having named our Helicopter. Our News Helicopter will give viewers breaking news and traffic [...]
NBC TV stations in NY and LA get new helicopters
Source: Broadcasting & Cable, 29-Jan-12
KNBC in Los Angeles has been involved in a helicopter share with Fox’s owned stations, while sister station WNBC in New York will get its helicopter later this year. (see full story)
Dann Shively retires from long-term career as KCRA pilot
29-May-11
KCRA hired Shively in 1972 as a producer, but he began flying the traffic plane for its radio station two months after he arrived. Shively had received his license “on a lark,” and the station needed a new pilot. In 1979, KCRA bought the first news helicopter in Northern California, calling it LiveCopter 3
Louisville’s WHAS and WAVE merge helicopter operations
Source: HeliHub.com, 29-Mar-11
Rival television stations in Louisville, Kentucky, WHAS and WAVE are joining forces in the air, effective from 1st April. The two stations will share air time and the video feeds will be identical on each station – and the helicopter will be painted up with one station’s colours on the port side and the other [...]
Police and news helicopters in Phoenix targeted by lasers
Source: KPHO, 27-Feb-11
On Friday morning, news helicopter crews were all chasing breaking news when someone from the ground shined a laser in their direct line of sight.
Dart deilvers first P174 power converters for R44 Newscopters
Source: DART Helicopter Services, 11-Feb-11
Oceanside, CA, February 10, 2011 — DART Helicopter Services and its subsidiary Geneva Aviation are helping to expand aerial news gathering opportunities for TV stations around the nation. DART has initiated deliveries of Geneva Aviation’s P174 Power Converters to Robinson Helicopter Company for installation in all newly manufactured R44 Raven II Newscopters, fully integrated Electronic [...]
Doug Doty Vertical Flight Foundation now accepting applications
Source: Doug Doty Vertical Flight Foundation, 10-Feb-11
The Doug Doty Vertical Flight Foundation is now accepting applications for their Electronic News Gathering (ENG) Scholarship. This ENG Scholarship covers the cost of the ground and flight portion of a two day weekend course that will prepare a Robinson R44 pilot for the rigors of flying for the purpose of news gathering from a [...]
TV Globo AS350B2 hit by three rifle shots
Source: Marataizes, 26-Jan-11
Thge television station AS350B2 – known as “Globocop” – was hit by three rifle shots at about 7:30 am. The reporter Karina Borges, the system operator and the pilot Roberto Mello Kings Antonio Ramos was not injured. one of the bullets hit the floor, the second, the central region, and the third, the tail of the [...]
Driver in police chase connected to fatal TV helicopter crash pleads guilty on 35 counts
Source: Romiley, 20-Jul-10
Christopher Jermaine Jones (DOB 6/5/87) pled guilty today to 35 counts of aggravated assault, vehicular theft, unlawful flight, leaving the scene of an accident, endangerment, criminal trespass, and criminal damage. The charges stem from a July 2007 incident in which Jones stole two vehicles and fled police, ultimately resulting in a high-speed chase. Jones was [...]
