Australia: Traffic Reporting helicopter gets heavy!!
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Australia: Traffic Reporting helicopter gets heavy!!
Found this from the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
He ain't heavy: who will save chopper reporter from chop?
It used to be newsreaders and weather girls who landed in the firing line if they gained a few kilos. These days even traffic reporters are subject to the dreaded pinch test.
For the past three years Alf Paranihi has enthusiastically boarded a chopper just before 6am each weekday to inform hundreds of thousands of Sunrise viewers on Channel Seven how to beat the traffic before hitting the road.
However, for the past few weeks his high-flying career has been in limbo after being told by his bosses he is too heavy to fly in the helicopter.
Paranihi's employer, Australian Traffic Network, has been trying to squeeze another reporter and camera into the chopper so it can produce another traffic report for Sunrise's arch rival, Nine's Today show.
The day Paranihi was told the news, he was understandably underwhelmed when it came to doing his live cross from the chopper. Concerned Sunrise executives caught wind of the situation and were equally unimpressed.
PS understands the extra body and equipment, combined with Paranihi's sturdy frame, meant the chopper would be overloaded.
On Monday a replacement for Paranihi, a much smaller female, was due to start doing the Sunrise crosses. Following an outcry within Sunrise executive ranks, she is yet to materialise and, for the time being, Paranihi remains in the cockpit.
Paranihi tells friends he has been losing weight, shedding 12 kilos since February, down to a trim 102.
It used to be newsreaders and weather girls who landed in the firing line if they gained a few kilos. These days even traffic reporters are subject to the dreaded pinch test.
For the past three years Alf Paranihi has enthusiastically boarded a chopper just before 6am each weekday to inform hundreds of thousands of Sunrise viewers on Channel Seven how to beat the traffic before hitting the road.
However, for the past few weeks his high-flying career has been in limbo after being told by his bosses he is too heavy to fly in the helicopter.
Paranihi's employer, Australian Traffic Network, has been trying to squeeze another reporter and camera into the chopper so it can produce another traffic report for Sunrise's arch rival, Nine's Today show.
The day Paranihi was told the news, he was understandably underwhelmed when it came to doing his live cross from the chopper. Concerned Sunrise executives caught wind of the situation and were equally unimpressed. PS understands the extra body and equipment, combined with Paranihi's sturdy frame, meant the chopper would be overloaded.
On Monday a replacement for Paranihi, a much smaller female, was due to start doing the Sunrise crosses. Following an outcry within Sunrise executive ranks, she is yet to materialise and, for the time being, Paranihi remains in the cockpit.
Paranihi tells friends he has been losing weight, shedding 12 kilos since February, down to a trim 102.
The R44 news has a turrent on the nose.
Fitting a second stabilised camera is not possible.
Fitting an extra internal camera doesn't cover much of a weight penalty, although Im not sure what that does to certification as you are adapting part of the aircraft.
So perhaps they mean adding another downlink which is an optional extra from Robinson is carrying a weight penalty.
"Hey you up front, pass the camera control its my turn"
Mickjoebill
Fitting a second stabilised camera is not possible.
Fitting an extra internal camera doesn't cover much of a weight penalty, although Im not sure what that does to certification as you are adapting part of the aircraft.
So perhaps they mean adding another downlink which is an optional extra from Robinson is carrying a weight penalty.
"Hey you up front, pass the camera control its my turn"
Mickjoebill
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Mickjoe,
No, they already have an internal camera, and the link does for all stations; it just needs a frequency change.
2 reporters for competing programmes in the one helicopter?
No, they already have an internal camera, and the link does for all stations; it just needs a frequency change.
2 reporters for competing programmes in the one helicopter?
Originally Posted by Squeaks
Mickjoe,
No, they already have an internal camera, and the link does for all stations; it just needs a frequency change.
ugh:
No, they already have an internal camera, and the link does for all stations; it just needs a frequency change.
ugh:
Yes one link can be switched between frequencies so can be used for two stations, but that supposes a reporter pecking order.... I was thinking that simultaneous transmission is (in theory) possible using two links, which is an option on the R44.
Anyone know if they will simulcast
Since most of the camera kit is certified as part of the aircraft and not of the carry on kind, is it possible to fiddle about with the camera kit and still be legal?
Mickjoebill
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He Ain't Heavy, He's My Reporter
The setup the traffic people use, puts the R44 close to it's max take off weight. With all the transmission stuff, the gymble camera on the front, there's not much room to move. Add to that an additional reporter, a few others bits of broadcast equiptment, the total weight borders the max take off weight. The gymble camera is to be shared between the two reporters, recording their crosses at opposite times to give both fair access to the camera. (Mind you, who gets the breaking accidents?) Because the reporters do more than just TV, there's radio's and 2ways that need to be added in there, so both reporters can continue with their other roles.
The max take off weight for the R44 is maybe 1.1t, the empty craft weight itself, 800kg. Add to that a pilot of 70kg, a reporter of 100kg, and 100kg of fuel, you get close to your max weight. If you wanna squeeze in another 10/15kg of equiptment, and another reporter, maybe 70kg, you have to sacrifice something. Can't skimp on the fuel, so it's easier to lighten the load of the reporters.
Just doesn't seem fair. Should have picked a better craft to use.
The max take off weight for the R44 is maybe 1.1t, the empty craft weight itself, 800kg. Add to that a pilot of 70kg, a reporter of 100kg, and 100kg of fuel, you get close to your max weight. If you wanna squeeze in another 10/15kg of equiptment, and another reporter, maybe 70kg, you have to sacrifice something. Can't skimp on the fuel, so it's easier to lighten the load of the reporters.
Just doesn't seem fair. Should have picked a better craft to use.
