Monday, October 08, 2007
Busy Chopper Chick back in L.A.
You'd think now that I'm home I'd have more free time! Not the case. Imagine being away from home for about 6 months and now returning and finally having days to get caught up on projects around the house, as well as new things that break on an old house. lol. Lots of things going on with my little house, as well as the job hunt! Soooo many cool jobs out there, just trying to find the right fit so to speak. Since I've been back I've flown one movie job last week, that was way fun as usual, and went on a couple interviews, mostly phone, since many of the operators are out of state. And I've flown for one company on a test flight, kind of like a prehire check to see if I have what it takes to be a utility pilot. Now I've read some of you don't know what that entails, well it can be many things. I've been looking at companies that do powerline type missions, as well as airconditioning units on rooftops. There are so many utility jobs out there. You can probably google them to get more descriptions than I could ever go on about. Utility appeals to me just as much as firefigting. It makes full use of the helicopters capabilities. Think of utility or long line work like that glass box that has all the stuffed animals in it, and you use the claw to grab hold of one! It's kind of the same fun, except a million times better! lol. Ok, now it's friday Oct. 12th. I started this paragraph then had to step away. Still very busy. More projects around the house. It was cold last night and I went to turn on my heater, and guess what, it doesn't work. Gotta get the repair guy out today hopefully among some other things with the house. Lol. It's a never ending project. Blackwidows in my house! Time for terminex! lol. Broken sprinklers! Replanting things in the yard and building some new patio furniture I bought over the summer! Lol. I'm sure I'm boring you with my projects. Well, in the mean time, until I land a new job, I'm enjoying getting caught up on things and spending time with my boys(cats). lol. Lou had his 3rd surgery tuesday!!!! He's doing really well. I'm positive this will be the one that has him on the road to recovery. I flew a day of news!!!! Wednesday I worked for Angel City Air with Larry Welk! It was great! Fun times and great people to work with as always. Flew a quick flight downtown in Chopper 2. It was strange flying at night again after flying all summer only during daylight hours. It was cool. L.A. is beautiful at night. Those of you who have never seen it from the air, and Mt. views don't count, should rent a chopper and go on a tour over L.A. at night. It's truly beautiful. I'm sorry I haven't had time to reply to comments. I really need some time to sit down and go over all of them at once and just haven't had a moment to do so. Thanks again for the comments! They are always fun to read!! Have a great weekend everyone! Talk soon!
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20 comments:
Hey living in a Black Widows Den along with no sprinklers and no heat? What's there not to love? Your living "Green" darlin!
Good luck with the job hunt!
It seems that every time I gave up looking for work after the wrapping up of a film the phone would ring. Funny how that works.
I finished this feature on the 12th and halfway through the day I got a call to work on another feature that begins on the 15th. So much for my plans to crawl up into the Sierras. It's the price of working freelance...."they call, we go."
Funny you mentioned rooftop air conditioning missions..
I went to a friends memorial service that was at a hotel near Fashion Island down at Newport Beach and as we all wandered about the lobby feeling weird and awful I heard a helicopter turbine engine whining outside. I grabbed all the children I could find and we ran out toward the front of the hotel parking area and there was a Hughes "Loach"/ "Killer Egg" across the street with a 25' line and a forced air unit hanging from it.It gently positioned the load atop the one story building and made it's deposit. A crane could have been used but maybe someone with a chopper connection owed a favor. All the kids loved the sound and movement. It was much more fun watching aviation in action with all the kids at my friends memorial. I'm sure he have would agreed. Why he might have even been watching.
Have fun with the patio stuff and the mud in your yard and give a pet to Pedro & Lil' Lou. Give a kick to that Jet Ranger/Lawn Ornament too!
Desiree,
Liked your explanation of what a utility pilot does. Thanks. Thought of it when I saw three of those claw machines in Wal*Mart tonight.
I looked on the Internet and, like you said, there sure are a lot of helicopter jobs out there--of all different kinds. Seems to be an especially big demand for EMS pilots. Maybe pilots just don't want to do that? If so, it wouldn't be hard to understand since they would constantly be dealing with patients in very bad condition.
Hope little Lou keeps improving and that your house is now warm and spider-free!
Richard
Are there that many utility companies in LA?
Desiree, Playing catch-up on housework is never fun is it.
I can relate to loving to fly at night. That was always my favorite time to go up. It was almost always nice and smooth, not alot of ATC traffic on the radio, the views were spectacular. I can remember flights home from Santa Barbara and once the 101 makes the turn to the east you literally can see it 20, 30, 40 miles ahead of you. Almost can see it all the way home from Ventura. But we won't discuss some awful night landings I'm guilty of. lol
Trevor
Yeah, well, while I fully understand your feelings about this, I still would love to have your wonderful voice (and face) reporting on the morning traffic on Channel 5. Having said that, though, I honestly think you have made the right career choices. But, still, you were great!
Jerry
Hey Desiree,
This week I've been prepping for a picture over at Paramount. I always park on the top floor of the parking structures on the movie lots because of the great views.
Prepping doesn't take up the whole day so the sun is still there when I get to my car and by chance I've been lucky enough to catch an Erickson Air Crane paint the burnt hillsides of Griffith Park with it's green slurry of hydro seed. Wow!!! I can see the attraction of "Utility!"
Very cool Desiree, very cool.
Talking about black widows I saw my
wildcat "Woody" batting a black ball of what I thought was a clump of thread. He would tap it about and then carry it around the house in his mouth and then pummel it again. I reached down and picked it up. I went spastic! It was a honking, large black widow!
Nice cat toy.Aaahhhhhhhh!!!!!
Desiree,
Talk about being indispensable, things were fine until you left firefighting for this year. Now Southern California is burning all over!!
Hope your job search is going well.
Richard
Been in a spaceship the last week and a half. Nothing much to put in the ships log, just inhaling a lot of paint fumes as the painters add the finishing touches on the interior of the bridge.
The fumes don't seem to bother me too much. My left eye trials off a bit now and the right one is fixed.
Are you out there flying in that stuff?!
What a grotesque scene that is unfolding on our landscape. If your out there be safe.
I had a #10 on the "Pucker Factor Scale" while trying to land last weekend. My hands and feet were moving so fast I didn't know what was happening until I got on the deck. Almost became a lawn dart that you could have added to your backyard collection! Lol!
Hope your thriving and watch out for those first choices (The red herring)that pops up when your looking for that right position.
Your doing great kiddo!
Nice site... are you out there with the boys fighting the fires in Cali? or did you start your new job?
Watching intently from NY-wish we could help you guys in some way as you certainly have your hands full but our brush fires don't quite compare to yours so I think we would just be in your way lol...
Fly safe
Stay low
Stay safe
Andrew Brofman
Deputy Chief Fire Marshal
Town of Smithtown
Long Island, NY
ajb5540@optonline.net
Desiree,
I read all through people's comments before I went back to your homepage and noticed that you changed the banner at the top of the page!!
Sounds like you landed a great job! Seems you will be flying news for Larry Welk, chasing crooks for the police, and doing construction too. Wow! Can't wait to hear about all of it.
Richard
I just wanted to say I recently started reading your blog and it rocks.
I just started on the path to being a professional pilot myself (though not helicopters) and I can't tell you how encouraging it is to see a woman experiencing so much success in the field. Right on!
As Cali fires burned, copters grounded
Seeing that in the news about blame being placed on the gov't for the aircraft not being able to fly really irritated me. Obviously Rep. Rohrabacher has never attempted to fly an aircraft or helicopter in 40-60 mph gusty winds, much less fly one low over a raging fire, creating it's own wind and turbulence, and trying to drop water on a precise spot.
Desiree,
Since you are going to be flying a police helicopter (Copper Chick?), I'll tell you about my experience with a Long Beach police helicopter. Before they built the Metro Blue Line, I used to go dirt riding where the storage/maintenance yard for the trains is now--just north of the 405 & east of the 710. I did it for many years.
One day while I was riding there with a friend, a voice from the helicopter's PA system told us to get off our bikes and push them up the road that goes to the top of the Los Angeles River levee. While we were doing that, the pilot landed the helicopter on the levee. His partner got out and started writing us tickets for trespassing on Southern California Edison property. He hadn't finished writing when a call came in that there was a shooting in Belmont Shore in the eastern part of Long Beach. The pilot said, "Come on, let's go," but his partner insisted on finishing our tickets. :(
I had to appear in court with people charged with embezzlement, grand theft-auto, etc. even though the offense was only a violation of the Municipal Code. When the judge said, "Mr. Gutmann, you are charged with riding you motorcycle on Southern California Edison property," just about everyone in the courtroom started laughing--except me.
There were no signs at the entrances saying, "No Trespassing," so it wouldn't have been against the law to walk on the property. However, Long Beach had passed a law saying that you can't operate any vehicle on private property, even if not posted, unless you have in your possession a letter from the property owner granting you permission.
The judge said he had to find me guilty, but since he didn't think I intended to break the law, he suspended the fine.
Desiree,
"HAPPY HALLOWEEN!"
Zaca Fire finally controlled yesterday
Hi Desiree,
You mentioned flying over L.A. at night. There is nothing I'd love to do more, but I have a fear of flying. However, if you were the pilot, I would definitely do it.
Congrats on your new adventure. Can't wait to hear all about it. I'm really happy for you.
Sharon
Lookie what I found. Gee I hope the link works. Read under "Sky Racers." Very Cool!
http://tv.yahoo.com/contributor/557370/news/urn:newsml:tv.reuters.com:20071030:court_dc__ER:25682
Okay, so the computer and I are no longer friends. I guess the old cut and paste will have to do, although I have to say, not so good at that either. LOL
Court TV changing name to truTV
By Kimberly Nordyke
October 30, 2007 at 12:02 am
The verdict is in.
Court TV is changing its name to truTV as part of a campaign to distance the cable channel from "reality" TV offerings on other outlets.
A new tagline, "Not Reality. Actuality," will underscore the new direction when it debuts its new name January 1. The channel, which will focus on real-life programming told from a first-person perspective, said Monday that the tagline is designed to "break through the clutter" of reality shows that have "manufactured and manipulated situations."
"Over time, the meaning of the term 'reality TV' has changed and now includes shows that have very little to do with anything real," Court TV GM Marc Juris said. "TruTV is aiming for an audience that wants real-life excitement and situations."
The channel, which also will continue to air trial coverage from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. ET weekdays, said the rebranding campaign will start Thursday. The Time Warner-owned network, available in 91 million U.S. households, also announced two new series:
"Sky Racers" focuses on news helicopter pilots in Los Angeles. It will center on Desiree Horton, one of only a few female news pilots, taking viewers "inside the cockpit" with her.
"One False Move" follows people whose jobs and adventures take them to the "brink of disaster," like rescue crews that blast two miles below the earth's surface or perform daring rope maneuvers hundreds of feet above ground.
The two series join a slate of previously announced projects in various stages of production or development, including "The Real Hustle," "Neighbors 911" and the tentatively titled "Ski Patrol" and "Black Gold," along with such returning series as "Forensic Files," "Haunting Evidence" and "Psychic Detectives."
TruTV's daytime trial coverage will not be rated by Nielsen Media Research. When the programming shifts to real-life original series at 3 p.m., starting with "Star Jones," the programs will be rated.
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
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