The Adventures of Chopper Chick!: Los Angeles Magazine.....

Saturday, March 24, 2007

Los Angeles Magazine.....

Wow, what an honor to be in the magazine on page 40. Very cool little piece they did on me. Some of the information is incorrect. There are more than 3 pilot/reporters in LA and unfortunately I do not receive compensation from KNBC for reporting. I'm am strictly a pilot that talks on air occasionally. I'm only paid a low chopper pilots salary and nothing more. Can't wait till fire season having said that. A bit more money in fire fighting thankfully. This pilot has a house and bills to pay for. A few other things are not reported accurately but not a big deal. The only thing that looks kinda bad is the last paragraph. I mentioned that I put seats in there so my friends can drink beer in there at night when I have parties. (as the chopper 4 comedians would say.....with....seats...lol...I'll never stop laughing at that one) I can't recall the last time I sat in that thing. It's there mostly because it looks really cool and just plain cool to have it in my yard. My cat Lou sits in there more than anyone. I'm usually out snowboarding, dirtbiking, and riding the streetbike with my other pilot friends. Occasionally my friends come over for cocktails and we usually chill in the hot tub, as long as lapd isn't flying over. lol. I apologize for being so busy lately. I want to comment on your comments especially the pilot reporter one. I will try to on sunday. It's now saturday and I'm running erans and nursing a head cold. Fun stuff. Beautiful day out. Wish I was dirtbiking. Enjoy your weekend everyone. Talk soon!

Little Lou

10 comments:

Richard Gutmann said...: Desiree,

You said, "I apologize for being so busy lately." No need to. But I certainly need to apologize for being so insensitive about that last paragraph in "Los Angeles" magazine. I really didn't think of it as sounding that bad. It just struck me as funny because of all the stuff that had been said about trailers, etc., which I shouldn't have said in the first place. Sometimes I think I am funny--sometimes I'm the only one who thinks so. But I admire you greatly and would never intentionally hurt you.

Richard; 5:06 PM
Laguna said...: Dig the "Garden Feature", outstanding and very cool.
Speaking of cool, Rich I dig your humor and next time I'm down in Long Beach I'll buy you a beer at Joe Jost's.; 5:24 PM
Desiree said...: richard, just quickly checking emails before running out the door and loving reading everyones comments. by all means i did not think what you said was hurtful in any way. no no no. he he he. when i read the article, i just thought to myself, how it kinda makes me out to be a beer drinker every night. lol. i can't recall the last time a drank beer anyway. i'm a wine and martini girl, and sometimes a stronger drink on occasion. lately no booze for me being on call on the weekends and working 5 days a week. lol. thanks for being so sweet about it. i'm glad you don't think it sounds bad.

laguna, lol. garden feature. i love it. i love that my cat knows which seat is PIC. he found his own way onto that cushion. on occasion i find him in the back seat on the floor of the ship snoozing in the shade. the cats are getting more use outta the lawn dart more so than my friends.; 12:51 PM
Laguna said...: PIC (Pussycat In Command).Lol!; 1:33 PM
spygirl said...: I just got my copy Desiree. Now all I need is an autograph....... :-); 6:03 PM
Desiree said...: laguna, lol. like the new definition for pic.

spygirl, awww thanks! yeah, i was feeling special today at the grocery store when i saw it at the checkout. lol. anytime, just visit me at whiteman.; 7:40 PM
trevor said...: Desiree, Most fascinating piece of lawn furniture I've ever seen. :-) Not exactly something you'd find at Home Depot huh? And I thought my Dad's chairlift chairs from Mt. Baldy were unique. You win that one hands down. Love the photo of you in LA Mag by the way.

Trevor
da40flyer@yahoo.com; 7:53 PM
Richard Gutmann said...: Laguna,

Thanks for the kind words. And going to Joe Jost's sounds real good--haven't been there in years, but sure used to enjoy the "Special" sandwiches and playing pool. Even have a Joe Jost's t-shirt somewhere, but doubt if it still fits.; 6:45 PM
Laguna said...: Richard,
Starting Friday work is non stop until 4/8. After that I'm free. Joe Jost's would sound real good about then. I'll keep you posted.; 8:40 PM
Desiree said...: trevor, thanks about the photo and l.a. mag. yeah, i love my chopper in my back yard. whenever i go outside, i look at it and it makes me smile. i can't believe i finally got one after wishing for one for so many years. thanks to a friend of mine! i'm happy to have given it a home, otherwise it would have ended up in a metal recyling scraping yard.; 9:14 PM

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PHPA / Professional Helicopter Pilots Association

Promoting safety and
understanding among
helicopter pilots, the PHPA
continues its mission
contributing to the critical
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helicopter missions and
acting as a liaison with the
community.

Coordinating efforts towards improving communications, methods of operation within the airspace system, or any other area that will contribute to the safety and education of all pilots;
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Promote community relations between the public and the helicopter industry.

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corporate office in
Los Angeles, California.

Become a member and help
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Go to:
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Board of Directors
Executive Officers & Board of Directors
Robert Butler - President
Alan Frawert - Vice President
Tom White - Secretary
James Paules - Treasurer
Board of Directors
Morris Cohen
Guillaume Maillet
Chuck Street
Ed Story
Desiree Horton
Gary Hollbrook
Pat Carey

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How I got started..........

For those of you who are looking at a life of flying helicopters or just curious how I started and got where I am today, read on.......................

I have been flying helicopters for over 18 years and mostly here in Los Angeles until recently in 2005 when I started fighting fire as a contract pilot all over the U.S. during the summer and in the off season on occasion. Currently I fly for about six different companies as a free lance contract pilot. My main company that I work for is Heli-Flite/Aris Helicopters in Riverside, CA, where I do Aerial Construction flying, fly for Corona Police Department, and fly fires during fire season. In the off months outside of fire season I fly some news and photo and movie production flights for various other companies which some of them I have been working with for over ten years. Since I have received many emails in regards to how does one become a helicopter pilot.....I am giving a little insight to those of you who ask how I got started and how much it costs to become a pilot, well it's a long story and everyone has a different story as to how they got their start. Some people had it easy, some people had it tough, some joined the military, others did the civilian route. There are so many different ways to do it and no one has the same story. As far as cost, well it was alot less 18 years ago, so you will have to check with a flight school on that one. I started flying when I was 19 years old and at the time I couldn't get a loan, so I worked two jobs 7 days a week and after two years, finally got my private. If you can get loan, it will not take you that long as I could only afford a couple of lessons a month. I never got my CFI as I found other ways to build time. Even 18 years ago being a CFI did not pay the bills, so I worked other jobs and flew part time over the years to build my time. I washed helicopters in exchange for flight time. I even paid for left seat time for quite some time to build hours. I jumped on any chance I could get for free flight time riding along with other pilots in an empty seat. I made lots of sacrafices and had no time to myself. It was all about flying, kinda how it still is today. hahaha. Anyway, I started a dba and made brochures and brought myself my own flight business doing tours and photo flights out of a Hughes 269 and an R22. Eventually I had some money to put myself through Bell Factory School which enabled me to fly a Jetranger early in my career with very little time. Back then insurance companies did not require massive amounts of flight time. With just 300 hours and factory school, I now had a jetranger to run my tours in. It eventually led to flying for other companies. Sending myself to Bell school opened up opportunities and possibilities for me. It was also my reputation that opened doors. Attitude is everything. You will not suceed in this business with a poor attitude. Keep that in mind. Trust me, I'm not perfect. We all don't have perfect attitudes, but you know what I mean. My job offers took off from there. I was doing tours for various small tour companies and flight schools and then started flying traffic watch, then soon I was flying news in a 206 which later led to an astar. When I got into fire, I sent myself to long line and mountain flying school. Sometimes if you want something, you will have to pay for it to get ahead and open doors for yourself. I found a company that hired me with no fire experience. With my training I had paid for and experience from flying over the years I was on my way to do what I had always dreamed of doing, fighting fire from a helicopter. I was patient as it took time to get where I am today. You have to be patient sometimes. I still get impatient on occasion and want it all now, but it just doesn't work that way. So my advice to up and coming pilots who ask how to do it? Find a good school, find some money, stick with it, don't ever stop, don't make excuses, don't let others discourage you as that will happen your entire career, and you will suceed and get what you want eventually. Good luck!

By the way, some pilots never stop paying their dues. Sometimes if you want certain things to happen in your career you will find yourself making the same sacrafices later on, but the sacrafices seem even greater because with time, comes more responsibility and more to lose when sacrafices are made. But sometimes the gain is worth it!