The Adventures of Chopper Chick!: I'm on the Butler 2 Fire in Big Bear

Monday, September 17, 2007

I'm on the Butler 2 Fire in Big Bear

We are in probably one of the best locations for a fire. Big Bear, what a great town. It's been busy and I don't have time to comment right now. One of the SEAT's(single engine air-tanker) went down today! The pilot is fine! In fact I had the privilege of flying him back to the Tanker base in San Bernardino after he maneuvered his plane into the only dirt field in town without harm to anyone or himself and minimal damage to the aircraft, well except for the fact that it's engine quit, causing him to go down. I'll write more more I have some free time. Thanks for all your great comments! Love reading them as always! Talk to everyone soon!

12 comments:

Richard Gutmann said...: Hi Desiree,

Good to hear from you. I've been wondering where they sent you; just had a feeling it might be Big Bear. I've always enjoyed that place. Well, except for the time I was just walking down the sidewalk in town, slipped on the ice, and landed on my face!

Here is what InciWeb had to say about that SEATs plane that went down: Plane goes down

Satellite View of Butler 2 fire, Sept. 15

Fly safely,

Richard; 6:07 AM
Todd said...: Package arrived safely Desiree. Thanks so much! Stay safe. - Todd & Sam; 8:52 AM
EastCoastFF said...: Hey Des just stopping by to say Hi, I saw in Firehouse magazine a Sky Crane crashed out there I think it was on the last fire you were at did the crew fare out ok?? you take care and keep that Gentex tight and the A-Star in the air.

ttys and BE SAFE :); 7:25 PM
Richard Gutmann said...: Desiree,

Early this morning, the KTLA helicopter was hovering just a little ways from my house for quite some time. Turned on "The Morning Show," but never heard of any wreck or anything. Think they were just doing a traffic report from over the 405.

I'm going to complain to the station! This is an entirely different situation, however, from the one that guy wrote to the paper in Santa Monica about and used the term "ghetto birds." This time it was MY house.

I'm just being ridiculous. What's new, huh? Actually, a hovering helicopter would never bother my sleep.

That picture of you that someone called attention to is now up to 82 views on Flickr. That's pretty amazing when you consider that the link I posted on your site took people directly to the picture where you had posted it on your blog--it didn't take them to Flickr, and no mention was even made that you are on Flickr.

Besides, you have not reported on TV in months and its about two years since your picture was up on the TV screen. When you get back to reporting on KNBC, I think we need to remind them of the public's continuing interest in you.

It's hard for me to believe how some of these people just don't realize how much the public likes you.; 11:48 PM
Richard Gutmann said...: Desiree,

My previous post didn't quite make sense. You didn't post that picture of yourself, it was posted by the late Ron Fineman.; 12:04 AM
Trevor said...: Desiree, Glad to hear from you. Nice to be relatively close to home for this one? I'm glad the pilot got out of that SEATs plane OK.

Stay safe,

Trevor; 10:00 PM
camerapilot said...: No rest for the wicked Desiree.
Hauling A&T one minute and then your off to Butler 2.
Nice not knowing what's goin to happen next!?!
Charlize Theron got sick so the production called in an "Insurance Day". As long as film does not pass through the camera gate no money is spent, except for crew.
I went home and tossed a tennis ball into my Rott's mouth several hundred times while I tried to keep him off the sand I was spreading out so I could lay down a brick patio. The cats stood on the sidelines just waiting their turn to try out the new cat box.The little bastar.....
Saw that Pawnee with the bent props up your way, boy, he did it right.
Buy him a beer for me.
Be safe Baby Sister.; 10:13 PM
Paul said...: Desiree, not sure the last attempt at leaving a blog went through, so at the risk of repeating here goes:

Some of us haven't blogged in a while, but, rest assured, we are all reading and appreciating your adventures.

Thanks from so many of us, I'm sure.

Stay safe and thanks for the great pictures! - Paul; 6:44 PM
Richard Gutmann said...: Desiree,

I checked on InciWeb and it looks as if you guys have just about taken care of the Butler 2 fire.

Maybe you are already back in Independence. If not, I hope you took along your jammies with feet. Saw that it is supposed to be 25 degrees tonight in Big Bear City. Burrrr.; 7:47 AM
Paul said...: Desiree,

Some of us haven't blogged in a while, but, rest assured, we are all reading and appreciating your adventures.

Thanks from so many of us, I'm sure.

Stay safe and thanks for the great pictures! - Paul; 7:18 AM
Richard Gutmann said...: As the Rotor Turns....

Desiree, you shouldn't feel too bad about a little dissension among the people working the Zaca fire. This week some of the residents from my neighborhood had a meeting with staff members from the city of Long Beach. The entire meeting was one long, heated argument about a proposed subdivision of a lot in the neighborhood--some in favor, some opposed. As the meeting ended, two women got in a fight--not an argument, but a real fight. Then the husband of one, hit the husband of the other. This occurred in a church, no less, whose pastor has always been kind enough to allow us to use his facilities. Two police cars came out, but no one was arrested. At least not yet. Pretty sad.; 10:38 AM
Mike said...: Hi Desiree, came across this website for the first time. Excellent and makes my life seem positively boring!! only joking, but great site will bookmark.; 2:14 AM

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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
operations maintaining safe
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;
Provide a forum for identifying and seeking resolution to local problems of interest to the membership;
Promote community relations between the public and the helicopter industry.

The PHPA is a national
organization with the
corporate office in
Los Angeles, California.

Become a member and help
support your helicopter
community.

Go to:
http://www.phpa.org/

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

Board of Advisors
Ricarda Bennett Esq - Legal Advisor
Alex Calder - Web Administrator

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!