Hot on the heels of the Phoenix crash, the Statesman-Journal reports that the KGW chopper got in the way of firefighting efforts near the Dalles Friday. State aviation specialist Jim Ziobro says two retardant runs were waved off because the news helicopter was in the way, and that he was faxing a report today to the FAA. The complaint alleges that the pilot was supposed to remain in radio contact and stay at least 500 feet above the firefighting aircraft:

"He didn't do that," Ziobro said, adding that at times the helicopter was under the plane trying to make the drop.

Firefighters said the tankers were notified of the helicopter's presence by people on the ground. Ziobro said the helicopter pilot did not have the required frequencies needed stay in contact with fire managers.

He said other media aircraft covering the fire caused no problems. ...

The KGW pilot, Daron Larsen, was angered by the accusations. Larsen said he was at roughly the same altitude as the aerial firefighters and would have moved higher if he had been told.

He said there was no temporary flight restriction in place when he arrived, and, without one, he has the same right to the airspace as the fire crews.

"I did not break any rules; I want to make that 100 percent clear," said Larsen, who said he has been flying news helicopters for eight years, seven of them in Seattle.

Rod Gramer, KGW's executive news director, said fire officials had called the station with airspace restrictions and frequencies, but the helicopter already was en route home by the time it re-entered radio range. He questioned why fire managers would have called the station if the pilot had been briefed.

"I can guarantee you the pilot is responsible," Gramer said.



The firefighters on the ground need to be armed with surface to air missiles now to take out such a jerk.

Remember we live in the USA.....innocent until proven guilty!
Besides surface to air missles are old school. Mount a Phalanx gun on a fire truck and then your cooking with gas!
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1065631041203710542&q=phalanx&total=354& start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0

Speaking of events near The Dalles, I watched the tragic episode last winter involving the two climbers who were not found, believed to have fallen into a glacier. The third was found dead.

Has the mountain melted enough to reveal their bodies or has any news surfaced?

There still looking, I think it started two weeks ago. THey did however find that on their desent they left some of their survival equipment behind, which was found last week.

Anyone else remember when Warren Petrie, at the time with KOIN-6, found a missing hiker in the Columbia Gorge (because he was part of either the search or was getting footage, I can't remember which)?
Let's not take one event and say that all TV news helicopter pilots are no good.

Warren Petrie may have helped lost hikers at one point but the last time it happened,his cameraman saw them and Warren took ALL the credit,even doing interviews about it.As you can imagine his cameraman was livid.

newflyer sez: "Let's not take one event and say that all TV news helicopter pilots are no good."

Are you a new helicopter pilot or something? Just curious.