Does Jax have a helicopter?

[coredumped]

I was pretty sure we did not have a news helicopter around, but the other day I was driving and came to the big interchange of 9a (295 East) and Butler when I saw a helicopter hovering up top the interchange. At the time I thought it was probably radar.
Then, this past weekend I saw another helicopter hovering over the beach.

Both seemed to be "hovering" rather than traveling.

I guess they could have been PD and mayport, but I was wondering if anyone heard anything?

Unfortunately they were both too far away for me to make out any writing.

[reednavy]

None of the stations around here have a regularly used helicopter. WJXT (Ch.4) has used one for special stories, such as the T2 explosions. ABC25 had one before merging with NBC12, and Ch.4 had one before dropping the CBS affiliation. I'm rather disappointed that this market doesn't have one, hell Panama City's WJHG has a helicopter.

[copperfiend]

I am sure we have missed some important car chases because of our lack of news helicopters.

[Lunican]

The police department is always flying around in theirs.

Also medical helicopters fly around a lot.

[mtraininjax]

Why build a streetcar line? We should instead fund a fleet of helicopters for citizens to use. Makes perfect sense!

[Springfielder]

There used to be news helicopters here in Jax, until the one from Firstcoastnews crashed by I-10 at the 8th street exit, killing those on board...haven't had any since. Don't know why, all major cities have them

[fsujax]

Yep. We had news helicopters in the 80's until the one Channel 12 had crashed and killed everyone onboard.

[reednavy]

Yet Phoenix had 2 tv station choppers crash, and they still have them. Did it scare people here or something?

[fsujax]

I don't know. I guess our local stations don't feel its necessary.

[Ocklawaha]

Keep in mind that until the internet, the network news was the big dog on TV. A family tradition in million's of homes to sit by the TV and watch the news. A throwback to the time families would gather around the radio.
TV revenues not unlike news print have taken a dive as we turn to our electronic media sources. They don't have the money to do helicopter today.

OCKLAWAHA

[stjr]

There used to be news helicopters here in Jax, until the one from Firstcoastnews crashed by I-10 at the 8th street exit, killing those on board...haven't had any since. Don't know why, all major cities have them

I-10 doesn't cross 8th, it's I-95.  I thought that crash was near Stockton and I-10 ??.

If a station needs a copter, why not just rent one.  What's the point in having one full time?  How many OJ Simpson chases can we watch? 

[johnsantangelo]

Our local stations can barely get the cameras focused on people. I don't want them anywhere near helicopters.

[reednavy]

Our local stations can barely get the cameras focused on people. I don't want them anywhere near helicopters.

I support this post.

Something called a tripod, good god.

[mtraininjax]

Although some of them do look DAMN good in the field!

[Springfielder]

There used to be news helicopters here in Jax, until the one from Firstcoastnews crashed by I-10 at the 8th street exit, killing those on board...haven't had any since. Don't know why, all major cities have them

I-10 doesn't cross 8th, it's I-95.  I thought that crash was near Stockton and I-10 ??.

If a station needs a copter, why not just rent one.  What's the point in having one full time?  How many OJ Simpson chases can we watch? 

Clearly it was meant as I-95 at 8th....but it was some time ago and my recall of where it actually happened isn't really important....I just remember it being by the highway and that's the last time there were news copters in Jax