Captain Matts' Blog

Hello everybody, I apologize for being out of the loop for so long, the truth is, I've been pretty busy lately!

In adition to learning about the new helicopter, I've started working on a new hobby... Now I was going to tell you all about it, but I've decided to see what you can tell me!

So here are some pictures... Whats my new passion?

Capt. Matt

As many of you already know, our new helicopter has arrived! This ship is amazing!

I went to North Carolina last week, to run the new bird for some final testing, and then fly it back to "The Bayou City"... The flight was amazing! I saw some beautiful country side, met some good people, and had a great chance to get to know the new machine! I had so much fun, I almost can't believe that I'll be getting paid to fly this aircraft...

She's crazy fast, she smells good, looks hottt, and she's loaded with all kinds of bells and whistles!!!!!!!

We still have a few small kinks to work out, but we now have the the baddest, strongest, fastest, and best looking news helicopter in town!

When all this started, I had no idea that so many people would be so moved by by this issue! I'm going to try to set some of these issues to rest... Lets start with a few facts that are in question here.

1) To start with, I asked to do this! Fox didn't put this on me. The cold hard fact of this matter is the pilot of any aircraft is the sole decission maker for the flight, you can't really judge what I'm capable of doing until you know about me or about what I do, and believe me, just an opinion isn't enough!

2) There have been plenty of recent reports (prior to me) where Mike and myself dictated the report seconds before the report, because the talent was "lost"... Let me explain busy... Try to fly, WHILE telling someone how to do their job, then paying  attention to them to make sure they get it right. Or here's an unsafe idea, as I'm dealing with air traffic control, I've got someone trying to get my attention, to ask "what road is this", because they don't know when we're in airspace. (happend all the time)!

3) If you know about small aircraft, you know that the less weight you can carry, the safer the flight is, one less person is a big deal.

4) The company that I work for, is fine with this practice, special guidelines have been put in place, for me to do this. My company isn't new to the news game, They know more about how to make this happen, then most people can, (even pilots), can understand.

4) As for air traffic, between 6 to 7 am, There's almost always 3 helos in the air... From 7 to 8am, there are only 2! There have been plenty of days, when you don't even fly in the same area of town all morning. How do I know? Well it's simple... We ALL TALK TO EACH OTHER ON A DECREET FREQUENCY! WE ALL WORK TOGHTHER TO AVOID HITTING EACH OTHER, AND WE ALL GET ALONG FAMOUSLY! Flying under 1000 feet will keep us out of the way of airplane traffic, which there isn't much of at these hours.

Now I'm sure that there will be whole new cans of worms opened here, so I'm going to keep doing what I do, and I'm not going to tell anyone else how to do their jobs...

Capt. Matt

So, when Mary left us, I decided I wanted to take a shot at reporting the traffic... WOW... It is a lot harder than It looks! Today was my first time reporting, and the problem that I found is that there is sooo much going, I'm having to think about how I can shorten up the report! I have a whole new respect for the people that have been doing this for any length of time!

Anyway, I stumbled a little, but I'm sure I'll get this down in no time!

Capt. Matt

Some of the other things i get to do as a "media pilot" are amazing!  Last Monday, I had a unique oppourtunity, I was dispached to to land and display the aircraft at an elementary school! 56 classes... 905 students total, had the chance to ask my camera man, and myself, questions about what we do, while getting near "skyfox"! It's incredible to watch them around the helicopter, you can almost see the "gears turning" in those young minds! Maybe I'll have played a part in one of them getting better grades, or even becoming a pilot! You know what they say... If every were to touch one life...

It looks like I get to do it again this Friday for a career day! Maybe I'll get a chance to land at a school near you, soon!

I'm adding 2 pics from the event!

Capt. Matt

I LOVE mornings like we had today! This morning, we were dispached to an accident on "ship channel bridge", prior to starting the helicopter this morning! We took off from West Houston Airport, and shot straight across the sky to the scene. When we got there, I couldn't believe how much was going on! Not only was there an accident, but there was a medical helicopter at the location, tons of back up, people exiting from the belt using an on-ramp, and 3 more accidents in the back up! It was almost madness, but it sure does make the time fly... (get it... "time fly")!                                                
                           Mary, Mike, and I are all very proud of the work we do in Skyfox, and we sincerely hope that we're able to help Houston get to work!

Capt. Matt

Well, it's been a while since my last post... I've been chomping at the bit, waiting for any word on the progress of the new helicopter. Yesterday, I finally recieved a couple pictures of our new ship in the paint shop! I said I'd keep everyone posted on the progress, so I'll give you what I've got! Check my pictures... I never realized the truth in the expression... "A watched pot never boils" until now, as it feels like this delivery is taking FOREVER!  

The latest move we're making, to get the news faster, is a new helicopter! Very soon, we'll take delivery on a brand new "Bell 407". When it arrives, Fox will have the fastest news helo in Houston! 

I just had the honor of attending a course, that is put on by the manufacturer, which trains pilots in the aircraft that they operate, (or will be operating, in my case). I'm confident that I've always been a good pilot, but with that school behind me... I'm much better! The instructors that I flew with pushed me past my comfort level, and showed me what the aircraft is able to do! It was an amazing experience, and a personal "performance upgrade", which in turn will help me get the news to all of you with a whole new level of skill!

I can't wait for the new helicopter to arrive! I hear that it's getting a hot "Skyfox" paint job right now, so it shouldn't be long! I'll keep you posted on the progress!

Capt. Matt

 I've been thinking about what we in Skyfox can do to better help our viewers! So, that being said... Is there any area of town, that any of you feel we can spend more time over while we're reporting the morning traffic? We try to hit all of the major highways, every morning, but we're not always able to do so, because we often have to stay with breaking news, and major accidents, until they clear, but when nothing's going on, we patrol in a random manner. So, If we can help you better with your morning commute, let me know where!

Capt. Matt

Finally back in the air today! It sure did feel good! This has been one of those days that makes a person proud of what you do... I almost turned around after about 5 minutes into this mornings flight, due to low clouds, mist and light rain, but instead I decided to keep going, with the warning that if the weather got worse, I would have to return to the airport. After about 15 minutes, we got a call to check out a building fire, we turned on course, and found it quick! FIRST ON THE SCENE! I CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF THAT! Then, at about 9:30 this morning, we got another call to check out a scene, where a car run off a road, and ended up in a pond...FIRST ON THE SCENE AGAIN!  I LOVE IT!!! 

Capt. Matt  

Well everyone... That makes 2 days in a row, that I haven't been able to fly due to weather. Most of the people I know,  would love to get a couple of day off in the middle of the week, but the problem I have is that I absolutly LOVE what I do!  I love my "office with a view", the people that I work with, and the station that I work for! I truely feel blessed! I hope that I can get back up in the air tomorrow, and help Houston find their "way" in the morning!

Capt. Matt

Flying for the media poses unique challenges. It's a constant balancing act to stay ahead of the maintenance required by a helicopter, and still remain available, and ready to go in a moments notice. The key to our success is the "team"! I'm very proud of the crew that we have! Our maintenance personel remain ready to drop anything that their doing, to tend to any issues that come up, and the all of the flight crew share a common need to get to breaking news as quick as possible! I feel as though we will be able to continue to get the news fast for years to come!

Capt. Matt