Helicopters Crash Kills Four
Collision of News Choppers may stir Pleas for Government Regulations
The tragic midair accident in Arizona between KNXV-TV Channel 15 & KTVK Channel 3's news helicopters will renew calls for stricter regulation on urban helicopter flights.
The Regulations
After the accident involving pitcher Cory Lidle over the skies of New York the FAA came under increased pressure from activists and the National Transportation Safety Board to put tighter regulations upon small aircraft pilots flying the East River. The arguments of whether or not this should occur are irrelevant for the action has already been taken and the law is in place. However, the skies over Phoenix Arizona raise the arguments to a higher level. In the previous law the rule only applied to Fixed-Wing aircraft or airplanes flying under visual flight rules in a localized area. Helicopters were not an issue but Phoenix brings that very issue to the forefront.
Helicopters have come under scrutiny before with the passage of “Enhanced Class B Airspace restrictions under Section 146 of the Aviation and Transportation Security Act.” Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor said “there are rules governing airspace and communications when news pilots desire to fly in the same airspace.” However, after helicopter accidents like this one, calls for increased security garner more attention.
The Cause
The causes of accidents like the one between the two News Helicopters will take some time to determine. However, according to the Nolan Law Group’s, Helicopter attorneys, there are several areas where accidents occur. Their number 2 reason is “Operating the aircraft in unsafe environmental conditions.” Unsafe environments will be a pivotal area and require detailed definitions by investigators. Safety advocates will point to the fact the helicopters crashed into Steele Indian School Park near downtown Phoenix. They will further point to the fact that 5 news helicopters and a police helicopter were in close proximity to each other. The potential for large scale loss of life if the crafts had come down on city buildings or the Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Building next to the crash site, will give strong credence to the argument the helicopters were in an "unsafe environment."
The Scapegoats
Of course the public wants action and that usually means one or more of the causes mentioned above or below will have to be addressed. The most logical result will be “pilot error” since the two pilots hit each other. Yet when examining the factors of whether new regulations are needed one must go further. Of course the pilots did not want to collide! So why did they?
Keith McCutchen, a past president of the National Broadcast Pilots Association, said “pilot awareness is vital while on the scene of a story because of the many distractions that could spell trouble.” So is distraction an issue? Should pilots be allowed to broadcast and fly in highly congested urban airspace?
FAA spokesman Ian Gregor said “the pilots of the five news helicopters and one police chopper over the chase were not talking to air traffic controllers at the time, which is normal…Once they are in the area, the pilots themselves are responsible for keeping themselves separated from other aircraft.” Should the FAA have more control over the pilots and require them to maintain stricter altitudes, horizontal separation and FAA communication?
Positioning for Protection
News agencies and the government will both position for protection. The ashes were still smoldering when Gregor stated “the FAA has not had major safety problems with news chopper operations.” However newscaster Pat Dawson of NBC News asked “Are TV stations taking unnecessary risks to cover police chases?” Within weeks the public can expect these statements to evolve into cries for new regulations.
- FAA, “Volume 4: Aircraft Equipment and Operational Authorization” 29 July 2007
- Associated Press, “Suspects in Custody after 2 choppers crash covering chase.” 29 July 2007
- Dawson, Pat, "NBC Special Report - Video" 29 July 2007
