News and helicopters - e.g. BA038
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Surrey
News and helicopters - e.g. BA038
The accident to BA038 happened at 12:42 on 17/01/2008. The first I knew about it was on going into the work canteen a minute or two after 13:00 and there it was, on the news - helicopter pictures and no information at all about what had happened.
What I'd like to know is, how do you get hold of a helicopter and pilot so quickly? - is there one always on standby for this sort of thing? -, and how actually would the news organisations find out about an event - Heathrow/BA press office, or passers-by?
What I'd like to know is, how do you get hold of a helicopter and pilot so quickly? - is there one always on standby for this sort of thing? -, and how actually would the news organisations find out about an event - Heathrow/BA press office, or passers-by?
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Redding CA, or on a fire somewhere
Certainly here in the US, news stations listen to ATC, police & fire scanners. Most big stations in large metro areas have a dedicated helicopter with a pilot on 5 to 10 minute launch readiness.
Joined: Mar 2011
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From: London/Atlanta
Totally agree, in Atlanta the WSBTV helicopter is never far behind any incidents that occur.
Apart from London you don’t see as much quick helicopter news coverage in the UK
Joined: Sep 2002
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
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From: Great South East, tired and retired
I spent a fair bit of time sitting at a desk in Ch 9 Sydney, next to the senior news editor, Choof, who had a bank of scanners. Any hint of a story and away we went, depending on ATC / distance from Sydney. At another time, I made a lot of effort to get ATC clearance to land on a footy field almost under the approach path to the international airport, used up a big favour with the Senior Terminal Area Controller to get in there, but finally got onto the ground. The big story was to talk to some football player who had twisted his ankle and might not be able to play the following week. Not happy, Jan.
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: London
Arena at Redhill have contracts with Sky and BBC. Details here..
https://www.arena-aircraft.com/
https://www.arena-aircraft.com/
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Reading, UK
The accident to BA038 happened at 12:42 on 17/01/2008. The first I knew about it was on going into the work canteen a minute or two after 13:00 and there it was, on the news - helicopter pictures and no information at all about what had happened.
What I'd like to know is, how do you get hold of a helicopter and pilot so quickly? - is there one always on standby for this sort of thing? -, and how actually would the news organisations find out about an event - Heathrow/BA press office, or passers-by?
What I'd like to know is, how do you get hold of a helicopter and pilot so quickly? - is there one always on standby for this sort of thing? -, and how actually would the news organisations find out about an event - Heathrow/BA press office, or passers-by?
Regular helicopters transit LHR all the time, SOP is to fly right over the runways at the 27 end. Pilots (and passengers) have mobiles. Mobiles have cameras ...
Maybe one just happened to be in the right place at the right time.
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: Out there
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Brum
I think the filming you're on a bout was done by Flying TV using an R44.
I do rememer being surprised at how far away some of the filming was done.
At one point the 777 was sitting in full frame when the camera zoomed back. And back. And back...
The 44 must have been hovering several miles away...
I do rememer being surprised at how far away some of the filming was done.
At one point the 777 was sitting in full frame when the camera zoomed back. And back. And back...
The 44 must have been hovering several miles away...
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 341
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From: New York City
In Los Angeles, it's very heavily favored for AS350s, with Helinet managing many of them.
