Desiree Horton

Last updated
Desiree Horton
Desiree Horton.jpg
Born (1971-05-18) May 18, 1971 (age 53)
North Hollywood, California
Other names"Chopper Chick" and "Heli-Barbie"
Occupation(s) helicopter pilot, television news reporter, firefighter
Employer(s)Air Resources Helicopters, Inc.; Angel City Air; Aris/Heli-Flite; California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection; Corona, California Police Department; Helinet Aviation; High Performance Helicopters; KCBS 2; KTLA 5; KCAL 9; KTTV 11; Midwest Helicopter Airways; Platinum Helicopters; truTV; United States Forest Service
Known forLos Angeles' only female helicopter pilot/reporter [1]
Website http://copterchick.blogspot.com

Desiree Tyler Horton (born May 18, 1971), nicknamed "Chopper Chick," [2] is a helicopter pilot and television personality based in Los Angeles, California.

Contents

She is one of the few female helicopter pilots/on-camera reporters in Los Angeles television history.

Career

Horton began to fly at age 19, shortly after graduation from North Hollywood High School in North Hollywood, California, a suburb of Los Angeles. [2] She worked two jobs (at a car dealership and a pharmacy) for two and a half years to pay for her training. [3] She explained, "I could only afford to take lessons once a week or once every other week as I made the money to pay for them." [4] She also washed local pilot/reporter Scott Reiff's helicopter in exchange for flying hours. [2] At one point, Horton was a stuntwoman, riding horses for films. [5]

She earned her pilot's license at 21, and since then has flown traffic watch, tours, frost control, charter, wildland firefighting, police operations, aerial construction, bank runs, [5] medical and organ transport. She has also ferried helicopters across the U. S.

From 2001 to 2005, Horton flew and reported for KABC 7 in Los Angeles. She was with KTLA 5 in Los Angeles from April 2005 to October 2005, flying their helicopter and reporting traffic and breaking news for the KTLA Morning News . [6]

While flying for KNBC 4, Horton had to report the deaths of four of her fellow United States Forest Service firefighters (a fifth would later succumb to his injuries) in the arson-caused Esperanza Fire. The next day, Horton herself would be fighting that fire from the air.

Horton now divides her time among several jobs: In the summer, she fights fires by helicopter for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and the U. S. Forest Service. Only about twenty women are certified by the USFS to do this. [2] [7] Horton derives great satisfaction from fighting fires because she's saving people's property and maybe even their lives. She says it also provides an additional enjoyment that comes from making full use of a chopper's unique capabilities. [2] [8] She was featured in the August 2007 issue of Wildland Firefighter magazine, in an article detailing her flying career. [9]

In the winter, she reports breaking news in the evening and at night for KCBS 2 and KCAL 9 in Los Angeles. She has also flown a helicopter for the city of Corona, California Police Department.

Horton, who is on the board of directors of the Professional Helicopter Pilots Association (PHPA), has over 7,400 hours (August 2008) in rotorcraft and says her dream is to work for the Los Angeles County Fire Department. [2]

She has been featured in articles in Private Pilot, Air Beat, Pilot Magazine, Pacific Flyer, and the LA 411 directory. With regard to Horton, LA 411 said: "A young woman with a breezy nature, youthful looks and bright smile, it's often assumed [on a movie set] that she can't possibly be there to fly an aircraft. In fact, she's been yelled at for simply going near the helicopter." [5]

Horton says, "I've even been told sometimes when they see me walking toward the helicopter, 'Hey girl get away from the helicopter!'" [5]

The May 1, 2009 edition of the Smithsonian Institution's publication Air & Space/Smithsonian identifies Horton as "a specialized breed of aviator [that] has evolved, one adapted to the medium of live television" since the invention of the Telecopter. [10]

She has also appeared as a model in both the Harley-Davidson motorcycle catalog and the Harley-Davidson clothing catalog. [4] Horton and her helicopter have appeared on camera in several films including American Icarus (2002), Showtime (2002), and One Six Right (2005). Horton has also worked on a number of motion pictures where the helicopter served as an aerial camera platform. She is one of just a handful of female SAG/AFTRA chopper pilots. [2]

In 2008, Horton was set to star in her own television series Sky Racers on truTV (formerly Court TV ). [11] The show, which never left the development stage, was to put viewers inside the cockpit with Horton covering breaking news in the Los Angeles area. In August 2008, Horton was flying and filming scenes in Maui, Hawaii for another truTV show, Maui Chopper , to debut on December 10, 2008. [12] In March 2010, Horton represented Heli-Barbie in a commercial made for Mattel, Inc.'s Barbie doll. In November 2011, she was studying to get her license as an emergency medical technician (EMT).

As of 2012, Desiree splits her time between flying news in Los Angeles for KCAL/KCBS as a pilot/reporter and working her second season on an exclusive use fire contract as a highly trained rappel pilot in Region 6 in Oregon flying a Bell 205A1++.

Horton has her own company, Horizon Helicopters, Inc., in Studio City, California, for production jobs.

Popularity with viewers

When KTLA replaced Horton late in 2005, popular media-tracking weblog Innocent Bystander said it subsequently received so many "hits" from people searching the Internet for Horton that it had to post an online warning saying it might be forced to shut down for a few days. This had never happened before. [13] Due to KTLA's distribution via satellite as a "superstation," viewers from as far as Canada wrote to complain that Horton was no longer on the Morning News.

Horton maintains a blog, The Adventures of Chopper Chick!, so her fans can keep up with her activities and ask her questions. She set up the blog after learning there were so many people asking about her on the Internet. [2] "I didn't realize how many fans I had and how many people cared [about me] until I was gone [from KTLA]," she said. [14]

Personal life

Horton, who is single, was born and raised in North Hollywood, California. She is very close to her mom. Her KTLA bio stated: "One of the most cherished people in her life is her mother." [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Van Nuys Airport</span> Airport in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California, United States

Van Nuys Airport is a public airport in the Van Nuys neighborhood of the City of Los Angeles. The airport is operated by Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), a branch of the Los Angeles city government, which also operates Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Van Nuys is one of the busiest general aviation airports in the world, with the airport's two parallel runways averaging over 230,000 takeoffs and landings annually. However, as of 2022, no commercial air service operates to or from Van Nuys.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aerial firefighting</span> Use of aircraft to combat wildfires

Aerial firefighting, also known as waterbombing, is the use of aircraft and other aerial resources to combat wildfires. The types of aircraft used include fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. Smokejumpers and rappellers are also classified as aerial firefighters, delivered to the fire by parachute from a variety of fixed-wing aircraft, or rappelling from helicopters. Chemicals used to fight fires may include water, water enhancers such as foams and gels, and specially formulated fire retardants such as Phos-Chek.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Los Angeles County Fire Department</span> Firefighting service in California

The Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD) provides firefighting and emergency medical services for the unincorporated parts of Los Angeles County, California, as well as 59 cities through contracting, including the city of La Habra, which is located in Orange County and is the first city outside of Los Angeles County to contract with LACoFD.

Désirée or Desiree or variation, may refer to:

Hanna Zoey Tur is an American broadcast reporter and commercial pilot who created Los Angeles News Service with fellow reporter and then-wife Marika Gerrard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection</span> Agency in California

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection is the fire department of the California Natural Resources Agency in the U.S. state of California. It is responsible for fire protection in various areas under state responsibility totaling 31 million acres, as well as the administration of the state's private and public forests. In addition, the department provides varied emergency services in 36 of the state's 58 counties via contracts with local governments. The department's current director is Joe Tyler, who was appointed March 4, 2022, by Governor of California Gavin Newsom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2006 Mercy Air Bell 412 crash</span> Aviation accident in the United States

The 2006 Mercy Air helicopter accident occurred on December 10, 2006, about 17:55 Pacific Standard Time, when a Bell 412SP helicopter, call sign "Mercy Air 2" impacted mountainous terrain near Hesperia, California and the Cajon Pass. The commercial helicopter pilot and two medical crew members were killed, and the helicopter was destroyed by impact forces and a postcrash fire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zaca Fire</span> 2007 wildfire in Southern California

The Zaca Fire was a wildfire in the San Rafael Mountains, northeast of the Santa Ynez Valley in Santa Barbara County, California. It was the single largest wildfire of the 2007 California wildfire season. The fire started on July 4, 2007, and by August 31, it had burned over 240,207 acres (972.083 km2), making it California's second largest fire in recorded history at that time after the Cedar Fire of 2003. As of 2023, it is California's 12th-largest recorded fire in modern history. The fire was contained on September 4, 2007, with the fire being brought under control on October 29, 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CDF Aviation Management Program</span>

The CAL FIRE Aviation Management Program is a branch of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Due to the frequency and severity of wildfires in California, the state has elected to establish its own aerial firefighting force rather than rely solely on contract or national resources. The Aviation Management Program is based at McClellan Airfield near Sacramento, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Helitack</span> Helicopter used to transport firefighters to fire zones

Helitack crews are teams of wildland firefighters who are transported by helicopter to wildfires. Helicopters provide rapid transport, enabling helitack crews to quickly respond and assess a wildfire situation. Helitack crews may land near a wildfire or, if equipped and trained, rappel from a hovering helicopter. Once on the ground, crews build firelines using hand tools, chainsaws, and other firefighting tools. They often remain overnight in remote locations. After they have completed their assignment, crew members may pack up to 120 pounds of equipment over difficult terrain to reach a pick-up point. Rappellers often prepare helispots that provide better access to a fire. Helicopter crew members may also perform other duties such as tree falling, firing operations, and managing helibases.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2007 California wildfires</span>

The 2007 California wildfire season saw at least 9,093 separate wildfires that charred 1,520,362 acres (6,152.69 km2) of land. Thirty of those wildfires were part of the Fall 2007 California firestorm, which burned approximately 972,147 acres of land from Santa Barbara County to the U.S.–Mexico border. At the peak of the wildfire activity in October 2007, the raging wildfires were visible from space.

Jennifer Jean York is an American journalist and bassist. An award-winning studio and helicopter traffic reporter in Los Angeles, she has received acclaim for her coverage of the Laguna Fire and the Northridge earthquake.

Wildfire suppression equipment and personnel is part of the science of fire fighting focusing on the use of specialized equipment, training and tactics to effectively control, surround and eventually extinguish a natural cover fire. There are several specially designed tools that through their function and user training, perform specialized tasks that are specific to natural cover firefighting. This is used together in conjunction with the general understanding of the behavior of fire to form a viable plan of attack.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">159th Combat Aviation Brigade</span> Military unit

The 159th Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB) formerly supported the 101st Airborne Division, and was stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. While active, 159th CAB made the 101st Airborne Division the only US Army Division with two organic aviation brigades, and currently the 101st CAB is the only CAB supporting the unit at Fort Campbell. The 159th CAB was inactivated on 15 May 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Désirée (given name)</span> Name list

Désirée, Desiree or Desirée is a feminine given name of French origin ultimately derived from the Latin word desiderata, meaning desired. Desideria, an early version of the name and a feminine form of Desiderius, was in use in Europe as early as the 800s. The Puritans used the name Desire as a virtue name.

<i>Birds of Prey</i> (1973 film) 1973 American TV series or program

Birds of Prey is a 1973 television film directed by William A. Graham and starring David Janssen, Ralph Meeker, and Elayne Heilveil. The screenplay was written by Robert Boris from a story by Boris and Rupert Hitzig. It is a crime action film depicting a radio station helicopter traffic reporter who, witnessing an armored car robbery, engages in a chase when the suspects flee in a vehicle and then switch to their own get-away helicopter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Fire (2015)</span> 2015 wildfire in Southern California

The North Fire was a wildfire that occurred in the Mojave Desert near the towns of Victorville and Hesperia, north of San Bernardino and south of Bakersfield, California. The fire began on July 17, 2015. The areas most impacted were adjacent to Interstate 15, where the Cajon Pass passes through the San Bernardino National Forest. The fire spread to 4,250 acres, and burned homes and other buildings, as well as numerous vehicles stranded on the interstate. Seventy-four passenger vehicles and trucks were burned along the highway or in neighboring communities due to the fire. The fire closed Interstate 15, the main highway connecting Southern California with Las Vegas, Nevada, during the first day of the blaze.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drones in wildfire management</span> Use of drones/UAS/UAV in wildfire suppression and management

Drones, also known as Unmanned Aerial Systems/Vehicles (UAS/UAV), or Remotely Piloted Aircraft, are used in wildfire surveillance and suppression. They help in the detection, containment, and extinguishing of fires. They are also used for locating a hot spot, firebreak breaches, and then to deliver water to the affected site. In terms of maneuverability, these are superior to a helicopter or other forms of manned aircraft. They help firefighters determine where a fire will spread through tracking and mapping fire patterns. These empower scientists and incident personnel to make informed decisions. These devices can fly when and where manned aircraft are unable to fly. They are associated with low cost and are flexible devices that offer a high spatiotemporal resolution.

Nancy Jane Miller Livingston Stratford is an American aviator. She flew warplanes in the civilian Air Transport Auxiliary in Great Britain during World War II and was later a pioneering helicopter pilot in Alaska.

References

  1. ↑ Kodash, Dirka (April 2007). "The Life of a...News Copter Pilot". Los Angeles . Emmis Communications . Retrieved 2008-01-15.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Scott, Gates (July–August 2008). "Women in Aviation Today". Pilot Magazine. p. 47. Archived from the original on 2008-08-26. Retrieved 2008-09-09.
  3. ↑ Lee, Shirley (December 2005). "Pilot Desiree Horton Reported on Traffic, but Prefers Fighting Fires". Centennial Aviation and Business Journal. Airport Journals. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
  4. 1 2 Horton, Desiree. "The Adventures of Chopper Chick!". Blogspot.com . Retrieved 2008-01-15.
  5. 1 2 3 4 McCready, Melinda (September 2008). "From Aerial Filming to Fire-Fighting". 411 News (61). Reed Business Information. Retrieved 2008-09-14.[ permanent dead link ]
  6. 1 2 "KTLA On-Air News Talent Biography for Horton". KTLA . 2005-07-29. Archived from the original on 2005-05-21. Retrieved 2008-01-15.
  7. ↑ "U.S. Forest Service certification for Desiree T. Horton". FED Aviation Resources: Pilot Search Result. US Forest Service Aviation . Retrieved 2008-01-15.[ permanent dead link ]
  8. ↑ Sassaman, Gary (2005-11-01). "Desiree Horton: In her own words". Innocent Bystander. Retrieved 2008-01-15.
  9. ↑ Ross, Paul Jr. (August 2007). "Updates on Fire Aviation Folks..." Wildland Firefighter. Blogspot.com . Retrieved 2008-01-15.
  10. ↑ Joiner, Stephen (2009-05-01). "Zoom Shot". Air & Space/Smithsonian . Smithsonian Institution . Retrieved 2009-03-24.
  11. ↑ Weprin, Alex (2008-03-03). "truTV Green-Lights Six Series; Former Court TV Also Details Four Series Still in Development". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved 2008-06-27.
  12. ↑ "Maui Chopper: Episodes". truTV.com. Archived from the original on 2009-02-09. Retrieved 2008-12-03.
  13. ↑ Sassaman, Gary (2005-11-23). "Bandwidth Alert". Innocent Bystander. Retrieved 2008-01-15.
  14. ↑ Horton, Desiree (2006-02-09). "Thanks everyone!". The Adventures of Chopper Chick!. Retrieved 2008-01-15.

Sources

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.