helicopter collision phoenix

This sucks. Bad guy 2, police 0, media -2+



Jul 27 04:03 PM US/Eastern (AP)

Two television news helicopters collided Friday and crashed while covering a
police pursuit. Both helicopters went down in a park and were on fire. There
was no immediate word on the fate of those aboard.

Gattman wrote:
This sucks. Bad guy 2, police 0, media -2+



Jul 27 04:03 PM US/Eastern (AP)

Two television news helicopters collided Friday and crashed while
covering a police pursuit. Both helicopters went down in a park and
were on fire. There was no immediate word on the fate of those aboard.

When I was with a TV station that had a helicopter (I only worked in the
helicopter on one story) there was an agreement that one station would do
this sort of stuff at x altitude, the other would be at x-200 and x+200. I
think the police were even in on this little agreement and they stayed at
their altitude.

When they had to leave the set altitude radio calls were made and eyes were
looking even more than normal.

On Jul 27, 4:53 pm, "Gig 601XL Builder" wrDOTgiaconaATsuddenlink.net
wrote:
Gattman wrote:
This sucks. Bad guy 2, police 0, media -2+

Jul 27 04:03 PM US/Eastern (AP)

Two television news helicopters collided Friday and crashed while
covering a police pursuit. Both helicopters went down in a park and
were on fire. There was no immediate word on the fate of those aboard.

When I was with a TV station that had a helicopter (I only worked in the
helicopter on one story) there was an agreement that one station would do
this sort of stuff at x altitude, the other would be at x-200 and x+200. I
think the police were even in on this little agreement and they stayed at
their altitude.

When they had to leave the set altitude radio calls were made and eyes were
looking even more than normal.

I was reading one of the stories and it said the reporter was the
pilot? I would think that would make it even MORE difficult to "see
and avoid..."

"Gattman" wrote in message ...
This sucks. Bad guy 2, police 0, media -2+



Jul 27 04:03 PM US/Eastern (AP)

Two television news helicopters collided Friday and crashed while covering a police pursuit. Both helicopters went
down in a park and were on fire. There was no immediate word on the fate of those aboard.


Pilot and cameraman on each, all died. Someone caught a snapshot; looked one was inverted and the other was rolled over
90° going in...

Not good...

On 2007-07-27 13:14:02 -0700, "Gattman" said:

This sucks. Bad guy 2, police 0, media -2+



Jul 27 04:03 PM US/Eastern (AP)

Two television news helicopters collided Friday and crashed while covering a
police pursuit. Both helicopters went down in a park and were on fire. There
was no immediate word on the fate of those aboard.

Video he

http://video.ap.org/v/Default.aspx?g...&partner=en-ap

http://tinyurl.com/2llx9h

It

is raw video listed under "Most Watched." There is voice on the video,
a pilot who saw the collision occur.

All four people on both helicopters were killed.

--
Waddling Eagle
World Famous Flight Instructor

On 2007-07-27 13:14:02 -0700, "Gattman" said:

This sucks. Bad guy 2, police 0, media -2+

Some news reports are saying the carjacker will be charged with the
deaths of the people killed in the crash. I am not sure how they would
get a conviction, though.


--
Waddling Eagle
World Famous Flight Instructor

C J Campbell wrote:
On 2007-07-27 13:14:02 -0700, "Gattman" said:

This sucks. Bad guy 2, police 0, media -2+

Some news reports are saying the carjacker will be charged with the
deaths of the people killed in the crash. I am not sure how they would
get a conviction, though.

Most states have laws that essentially say any death due or related to
the commision of a crime is chargable as murder.

Making the connection between the helicopters being there because of
the crime is a no-brainer and the perp probably can't afford a lawyer
clever enough to avoid the conviction.


--
Jim Pennino

Remove .spam.sux to reply.

"Gattman" wrote in message
...
This sucks. Bad guy 2, police 0, media -2+



Jul 27 04:03 PM US/Eastern (AP)

Two television news helicopters collided Friday and crashed while covering a
police pursuit. Both helicopters went down in a park and were on fire. There
was no immediate word on the fate of those aboard.

It is FAR past time for the media to stop covering these chases by chasing and
filming them in their helicopters. The public can do without it. It does no
good to stop the criminal behavior.

As a matter of fact, there is good evidence that some of the chases happen, so
the runner will have a chance to get on TV.

Don't get me wrong. I feel for the people and friends of those that crashed.

This is one circus we can do without. There is no benefit, only risk; needless
risk - it was bound to happen sooner or later. Media and police need to make an
agreement that they will not film these chases anymore.

soapbox off
--
Jim in NC

"Morgans" wrote:

It is FAR past time for the media to stop covering these chases by
chasing and filming them in their helicopters. The public can do
without it. It does no good to stop the criminal behavior.

The entertainment value seems to be far too great for this to happen. In
this case, the two helicopters involved in the incident were being joined
by three other media helicopters, plus there was reportedly a police
helicopter in the vicinity for a total of six flitting around in the same
airspace.

The thing that gave me chills was that it appears the pilot also provides
the commentary, so he not only has to maintain separation and handle the
radio, but also has to watch the chase on the ground, glance at the
monitors to see what is being videoed, and has to have the presence of mind
with all that's going on to make intelligent comments to the viewers all at
the same time. Talk about multi-tasking. And they say that cell phones
when driving are a distraction.

You'd at least think the various stations could agree to accept feeds from
their competitors to keep the number of choppers over a chase to some sane
limit.

On Jul 28, 1:44 am, James Robinson wrote:
"Morgans" wrote:

It is FAR past time for the media to stop covering these chases by
chasing and filming them in their helicopters. The public can do
without it. It does no good to stop the criminal behavior.

The entertainment value seems to be far too great for this to happen. In
this case, the two helicopters involved in the incident were being joined
by three other media helicopters, plus there was reportedly a police
helicopter in the vicinity for a total of six flitting around in the same
airspace.

Entertainment value has nothing to do with it.

The ability to get on top of, and stay on top of a breaking story
insert your own worthy definition here is the coal that fires the
sales department. Wanting to be top dog and be able to proclaim that
"When News Breaks, We Fix It..! *" equates to more advertising
dollars. Cash is King.

Unfortunately, there is a rampant sense of "If It Bleeds, It Leads" in
many newsrooms now days and the Phoenix market (being relatively close
to Los Angeles both physically and in attitude) tends to follow that
trend to a fault.

The thing that gave me chills was that it appears the pilot also provides the commentary, so he not only has to maintain separation and handle the radio, but also has to watch the chase on the ground, glance at the monitors to see what is being videoed, and has to have the presence of mind with all that's going on to make intelligent comments to the viewers all at the same time. Talk about multi-tasking. And they say that cell phones when driving are a distraction.

IMO, in most markets, you can thank the union/management relationship
for this deal. News departments (like any other business) look for
ways to cut costs and the ability to send out a helo with only a pilot/
reporter and one camera operator (either hand held on the shoulder or
if they can afford such a gyro-mount of some kind) means they aren't
paying a big bucks, terrestrial reporter and/or producer to go up as
well.

You'd at least think the various stations could agree to accept feeds from their competitors to keep the number of choppers over a chase to some sane limit.

There isn't a News Director on the planet (who wants to keep his/her
job) that would be willing to do this. The phrase, "Live, Local,
BORROWED" just doesn't have the same catchy ring to it.

(* Personally, I prefer the phrase: If It Happens Around Town, It's
News To Us! This used to be our inside joke back in the day at WDTN
in Dayton, OH.)

Jay Beckman
PP-ASEL
Chandler, AZ
("Veteran" of the Broadcast Wars Since 1982)