News Helicopters List and Discussion

[Brian 7]

The new KTTV Sky FoxLA 11 helicopter N93DD

N93DD is LA’s newest news chopper!
https://globe.adsbexchange.com/?icao=ace39f&zoom=13

1996 BELL 407 N93DD
Mode-S: ACE39F
Bell Serial: 53030
https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=93DD

 

N93DD YouTube Video
https://youtu.be/mhM8u2NuQYc

 

FlyHeliInc has moved into the #2 Media Market by providing a News Chopper to @CBSLA & @FOXLA
Welcome to California N93DD Bell 407.
https://twitter.com/beachshoot/status/1511151455507386374

 

Photo.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CcQ6nQSv--c/?hl=en
https://www.instagram.com/p/CbQJcOGF-MP/?hl=en

 

Video
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cbz-M6ZrzaS/?hl=en

 

Fox/Cbs New Chopper Has A Tail Camera
https://twitter.com/PupscanLA/status/1510374777260634114

 

Video 
https://twitter.com/Stu_Mundel/status/1509901370161172483

 

Photo
Something old Something new Something borrowed Something Blue… #SkyFox
https://twitter.com/Stu_Mundel/status/1504860676262547457

[rtmclaug 75]

I wonder if 

On 4/14/2022 at 1:14 AM, Brian said:

The new KTTV Sky FoxLA 11 helicopter N93DD

N93DD is LA’s newest news chopper!
https://globe.adsbexchange.com/?icao=ace39f&zoom=13

1996 BELL 407 N93DD
Mode-S: ACE39F
Bell Serial: 53030
https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=93DD

 

N93DD YouTube Video
https://youtu.be/mhM8u2NuQYc

 

FlyHeliInc has moved into the #2 Media Market by providing a News Chopper to @CBSLA & @FOXLA
Welcome to California N93DD Bell 407.
https://twitter.com/beachshoot/status/1511151455507386374

 

Photo.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CcQ6nQSv--c/?hl=en
https://www.instagram.com/p/CbQJcOGF-MP/?hl=en

 

Video
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cbz-M6ZrzaS/?hl=en

 

Fox/Cbs New Chopper Has A Tail Camera
https://twitter.com/PupscanLA/status/1510374777260634114

 

Video 
https://twitter.com/Stu_Mundel/status/1509901370161172483

 

Photo
Something old Something new Something borrowed Something Blue… #SkyFox
https://twitter.com/Stu_Mundel/status/1504860676262547457

I wonder if it’ll be shared with KCBS/KCAL or if it’ll be KTTV’s own. Either way, it looks nice. I love the blue paint job.

[PKATL 2]

1 hour ago, rtmclaug said:

I wonder if 

I wonder if it’ll be shared with KCBS/KCAL or if it’ll be KTTV’s own. Either way, it looks nice. I love the blue paint job.

It seems to be 2 choppers now so they may or may not be sharing in the future or end up using 1 each for the morning and evening flights.

 

 

[PKATL 2]

It seems 2/9 and 11 will have their own choppers. 3 choppers, 2 branded, 1 backup.

 

N39CL is dual branded as of now, FOX11 on one side, Sky 2 on the other side. 

 

I wonder, how they will brand the 2nd chopper. 

[kshow 168]

https://twitter.com/RoadSageLA/status/1515187739733344261/photo/1

 

 

[ABC 7 Denver 1889]

One of the last few markets where stations have their own choppers.

[newsteam13 417]

On 4/15/2022 at 11:07 PM, ABC 7 Denver said:

One of the last few markets where stations have their own choppers.

 

I was looking at out-of-country news clips, and I noticed something from Australian TV stations. TEN Eyewitness News had State Bank on their chopper, while Seven National News had National Australia Bank on their chopper. I wonder if those two banks were sponsoring each network's aerial news coverage. Flying billboard if you will.

If that's the case, that idea could work in America local stations. A bank funding the chopper for a local station, and in exchange, having the bank's logo somewhere on the chopper with the station logo on it. Plus, announcing that the aerial coverage sponsored by X Bank, so that the station can provide their bank more business.

 

 

Either a bank, a real estate chain, or even a grocery store sponsoring a station's helicopter coverage. Example, KCAL 9's helicopter with the Albertson's grocery stores logo on it

Edited December 5, 2022 by newsteam13

[PTVNews 201]

Not sure if the list on the first post is being maintained but there is no longer a news helicopter in Portland. I think it went away around the start of 2022.

 

Before the final chopper went away, all stations had been sharing sharing the video the past few years, but KOIN left the sharing agreement several years earlier and went without one. Before that there were 2 choppers (KGW/KPTV) and KOIN/KATU. And then of course go back far enough into the 2000s when they all had their own.

[PKATL 2]

It looks like WJZ has dumped their R66 and WBAL is the only eye in the sky in Baltimore now.

 

I know that WBFF shares chopper with channel 7 (5 &9) in DC for breaking news.

[appleachian 138]

WRAL is currently flying N6TY, which was formerly assigned to KMOV.  WRAL's own N553HD which has always been registered to Capitol Broadcasting is now registered to Helicopters, Inc. and hasn't flown since February.  Word is that it is undergoing rehabbing.  But either way, it does look like WRAL has sold their chopper and outsourced the service.

[JosiahCubed 301]

And within the last year and a half or so, KDKA and WPXI stopped using Chopper 2/Chopper 11, which has left Sky 4 from WTAE as Pittsburgh’s only news helicopter.

[newscopter7 240]

20 minutes ago, JosiahCubed said:

And within the last year and a half or so, KDKA and WPXI stopped using Chopper 2/Chopper 11, which has left Sky 4 from WTAE as Pittsburgh’s only news helicopter.

WTAE is pretty much the only station putting in any effort. KDKA or “CBS NEWS PITTSBURGH” is coasting on its heritage and the effects of Apollo are evident in the product WPXI is putting out. 

Edited May 17, 2024 by newscopter7

[PhotogNews 8]

Probably getting active this topic again......

 

Looks like WTTG/WUSA/WJLA possibly stopped using their chopper (N611TV/N991TV) and start using N98CL with WRC, at least that what I saw the chopper footage they used in CIA HQ barricade.

 

Anyone can confirm that?

[PhotogNews 8]

N63L (possibly DC POOL) in Fairfax Co, VA this afternoon (for OIS shooting in Fairfax 4/23), wonder if it's replacement for N98CL

[TheRolyPoly 3510]

It sounds like, from this post, WKMG will end it's helicopter use, Sky 6.

 

EDIT: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/wkmg-tv_news6-gettingresults-innovation-activity-7323088937319624704-4cL1?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android&rcm=ACoAABqGw-0BrOQ_9csrv95OAtvM37gqLkE_dSc

Edited April 30, 2025 by TheRolyPoly

[ScottSchell 423]

Bad news KWTV’s Bob Mills SkyNews 9 a new Bell 505 has been totaled in an accident this evening while landing at Wiley Post Airport. Both pilot Jim Gardner and photographer Tim Young walked away with some non serious injuries, the 505 replaced the 407 that was totaled in 2023 hail storm in Pauls Valley Oklahoma and this comes on the same week that KOTV debuted the 505 Osage SkyNews 6. Photos of the helicopter before and after the crash.

[T.L. Hughes 958]

15 hours ago, ScottSchell said:

Bad news KWTV’s Bob Mills SkyNews 9 a new Bell 505 has been totaled in an accident this evening while landing at Wiley Post Airport. Both pilot Jim Gardner and photographer Tim Young walked away with some non serious injuries, the 505 replaced the 407 that was totaled in 2023 hail storm in Pauls Valley Oklahoma and this comes on the same week that KOTV debuted the 505 Osage SkyNews 6. Photos of the helicopter before and after the crash.

The new SkyNews 9 didn’t even last seven months. 

 

The timing of the crash couldn’t have been worse, given it happened during the middle of Oklahoma’s peak severe weather season. If KWTV needs aerial footage to supplement their ground crews, for the time being, KOTV’s chopper will have to serve as an occasional fallback.

Edited May 1, 2025 by T.L. Hughes

[PKATL 2]

WSB seems to have replaced their chopper again with N6TY. 

[euroastar350 0]

Howdy,

 

First time posting and I have a nice update for the current news chopper scene.

 

WFLA ended the contract with US Helicopters which provided the AS350BA AStar, N818HD, this ship is now in Chicago. In return, WFLA is now using the former WAVY-TV Chopper 10/Bell 206L3/N210TV since WFLA and WAVY are both owned by Nexstar. It's been a few months since the swap and as of this post, the chopper still has WAVY's branding on it. I believe WAVY no longer relies on helicopter coverage.

 

Yes KWTV did lose their brand new (used) Bell 505 recently and was quickly replaced by a 1995 Bell 206L4, N595CC which is undergoing refurb/modified for TV news. It'll be N9TV sometime after it's completed and in service

 

WLKY recently swapped N3YJ for N90CL. N3YJ and N29S are both in San Antonio covering for KENS/KSAT, N61CL which was the ship for those stations is currently at Heliinc headquarters.

 

Of course we all know Heliinc has LA contracts now, it's with three ships. N50Q, N39CL and N93DD

 

The old N3QY used by KCRA is now N6TY and is in Atlanta along with N5QV and N46CL, unless things have changed recently. KCRA now has another 206L4 which was previously N77TL and was re-registered as N3QY

 

Gone from the Helicopters Inc fleet are N2AQ which was exported to Canada with 30,000 airframe hours. This ship was used by WSB for as long as I can remember.

 

N2BQ was also sold and was a backup/pool ship. This aircraft had almost 25,000 airframe hours before it was retired from the fleet

[TVNewsEP 1]

On 3/25/2025 at 9:34 PM, PhotogNews said:

Probably getting active this topic again......

 

Looks like WTTG/WUSA/WJLA possibly stopped using their chopper (N611TV/N991TV) and start using N98CL with WRC, at least that what I saw the chopper footage they used in CIA HQ barricade.

 

Anyone can confirm that?

Yes correct. WTTG and WUSA now use WRC’s helicopter. WJLA no longer has access to a helicopter

[PKATL 2]

On 8/5/2025 at 11:50 PM, euroastar350 said:

Howdy,

 

First time posting and I have a nice update for the current news chopper scene.

 

WFLA ended the contract with US Helicopters which provided the AS350BA AStar, N818HD, this ship is now in Chicago. In return, WFLA is now using the former WAVY-TV Chopper 10/Bell 206L3/N210TV since WFLA and WAVY are both owned by Nexstar. It's been a few months since the swap and as of this post, the chopper still has WAVY's branding on it. I believe WAVY no longer relies on helicopter coverage.

 

WLKY recently swapped N3YJ for N90CL. N3YJ and N29S are both in San Antonio covering for KENS/KSAT, N61CL which was the ship for those stations is currently at Heliinc headquarters.

 

 

The old N3QY used by KCRA is now N6TY and is in Atlanta along with N5QV and N46CL, unless things have changed recently. KCRA now has another 206L4 which was previously N77TL and was re-registered as N3QY

 

Welcome!

It seems that N6TY is gone for good in Atlanta. I saw it over the summer but that's it.

N61CL seems to be working for WSB now.  Looks like it is just N61CL and N46CL (5,11,46 and 69).

 

[TheRolyPoly 3510]

Bringing this back up as recently, WBTS' helicopter, NBC 10 Boston SkyRanger, had to make an emergency landing in Chelsea, Mass.

 

They show the full unedited 40 second video from descending to landing.

 

[rtmclaug 75]

I did some digging and apparently N29S has found new life in Miami. It’s the new Chopper 6 for WTVJ. Same red paint scheme. The video I saw for it (I follow their photojournalist on Instagram) only showed the chopper with the NBC 6 logo. It probably is a shared chopper with WSCV. 

[TheRolyPoly 3510]

4 hours ago, rtmclaug said:

I did some digging and apparently N29S has found new life in Miami. It’s the new Chopper 6 for WTVJ. Same red paint scheme. The video I saw for it (I follow their photojournalist on Instagram) only showed the chopper with the NBC 6 logo. It probably is a shared chopper with WSCV. 

 

Here's a past recipient to showcase what the N29S looks like. The station Kansas City thanked for making them #1 used it.

 

[GodfreyGR 812]

A rare look at "Sky Fox9" a little bit ago on KMSP... The "7CL" seen in the news footage ties back to N67CL that landed at Flying Cloud in Eden Prairie, not too far from KMSP's studios, which looks like it got brought in from somewhere else. Wonder if it replaced WCCO's N444TV that the three stations had been sharing, or if Fox went solo? N76CL did have life as a newscopter in D.C., but that doesn't look like any 9 that WUSA has ever used.

 

Anyone got any more info? Now I'm curious!