Does Jax have a helicopter?

[thekillingwax]

I thought it was a lifeflight chopper that went down near 8th but no one was injured. ABC25's chopper did crash and kill everyone though but I don't know where.

Personally, I think since we've been graced with ACTION NEWS!,  we need an ACTION NEWS! Chopper. Or a tank or a jet or something. My news isn't nearly action-y enough if they only use traditional vehicles.

[Springfielder]

Been trying to find the information about it....anyone remember the year?

[thekillingwax]

I think it was around 2000-2001? There used to be a mention of it on wikipedia but I can't seem to find it now. I think it was called Newschopper 25 and was one of those dinky looking R-44s (They may or may not be good vehicles, I don't know but that huge rotor mast thing makes it look flimsier than a Bell or MD).

[Charles Hunter]

The news chopper crash was significantly earlier than 2000, more like back in the 1980s.  I thought it was TV12 (WTLV), long before they merged with TV25.  It was near I-10 and Stockton during a live traffic report - the picture started rotating, then went to static, then back to the anchors in the station.

[thekillingwax]

Really? I always thought it was back when WJXX was their own weird little station. I know they did have a chopper, maybe they just got rid of it but I thought it was the one that crashed.

[stjr]

In response to inquiring posts above, I just found this article from the L.A. Times recapping the 1986 WTLV 12 traffic helicopter crash.  It doesn't give the exact location but I am almost certain it was around I-10 and Stockton Street.

Traffic Helicopter Crash Kills 2, Injures 1
June 17, 1986

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. â€" A traffic helicopter spiraled out of control and crashed during a broadcast Monday, killing two of three people aboard seconds after viewers saw live, spinning pictures from the whirling aircraft.

The accident, which killed a reporter and the pilot and seriously injured a cameraman, occurred just two weeks after WTLV-TV began live traffic reports.

The reporter who was killed, Julie Ann Silvers, 26, had finished her report when she seemed to gasp, said producer Mary Johnson, who said Silvers then uttered her last words: "Uh, we'll check on that condition."

Pilot William Buddy Smith, 34, died in the crash, and cameraman Brett C. Snyder, 22, was in serious condition at a hospital, Green said.

See: http://articles.latimes.com/1986-06-17/news/mn-11596_1

[Charles Hunter]

I think you are correct - near what was then the Voyager (or Carolina - it changed names) Insurance building, now the DOT is in the building.  I was watching that broadcast - very creepy.

[civil42806]

Just as an additional note, the mosquito control used to operate a bunch of old bell 47s' to spray during the 60's and 70's the remains of the heliport are still up on the northside

[CS Foltz]

Well there was a Bell Longranger that did go down beside the I95 in someones back yard! That was around Kings Avenue get off on the east side. I guess about 3 to 5 years ago or less. I think it was a Baptist Lifeflite bird. Since then they have gone to a MBB 107 or something similar.

[I-10east]

Traffic Helicopter Crash Kills 2, Injures 1
June 17, 1986

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. â€" A traffic helicopter spiraled out of control and crashed during a broadcast Monday, killing two of three people aboard seconds after viewers saw live, spinning pictures from the whirling aircraft.

The accident, which killed a reporter and the pilot and seriously injured a cameraman, occurred just two weeks after WTLV-TV began live traffic reports.

The reporter who was killed, Julie Ann Silvers, 26, had finished her report when she seemed to gasp, said producer Mary Johnson, who said Silvers then uttered her last words: "Uh, we'll check on that condition."

Pilot William Buddy Smith, 34, died in the crash, and cameraman Brett C. Snyder, 22, was in serious condition at a hospital, Green said.

See: http://articles.latimes.com/1986-06-17/news/mn-11596_1

I really didn't wanna resurrect this ancient topic in particular, but with the recent Seattle chopper crash, the TU put together a slideshow concerning the tragic Channel 12 helicopter crash back in '86. IMO with aerial drone technologies nowadays, it's makes no sense putting peoples lives in jeopardy covering stories; I'll leave it at that. 

www.jacksonville.com/slideshow/2014-03-18/look-back-channel-12-traffic-copter-crashes-killing-2#slide-1 

[coredumped]

"Sky Action News Jax" has launched for action news. I must admit im watching their news broadcast more and more.

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2016-05-02/story/jacksonvilles-action-news-adds-helicopter-plethora-news-covering-tactics

[Overstreet]

They have traffic cameras on multiple locations. They have "tower" mounted cameras on their news trucks. They have $1,500 drones that do the job much cheaper than a helicopter, pilot , and aerial news reporter.

[blfair]

Anyone know what the aircraft is and where it's based?

[coredumped]

I'm not sure, no mention of the type of helicopter on their website.

[blfair]

Action News' helicopter is N601TV, a Robinson R44. Looks to be based at Craig field.