Heidi_Hatch's Blog

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) - Two medical helicopters collided Sunday about a half-mile from a northern Arizona hospital, killing six people and critically injuring a nurse.

It is so sad to hear about this a year after two news choppers crashed in Phoenix. They were following a chase last July when they collided - crashed and burst into flames.You'd think that being in the news business I'd be all for helicopters- but I'm not. They scare the heck out of me. They help us get you to work on time with traffic reports "on the five's" and helicopters get us to the scene of breaking news faster than just about anything else. More importantly the brave men and women who fly them save countless lives every year.

With that said--- they scare me.

I've yet to have a good experience in a helicopter.

#1

My first time was in a life flight helicopter for a story on the flight teams that save lives. They had to strap my seat belt through the door to make sure it wouldn't fly open midflight.

#2

Second time I was sent hours from my station in Utah to a desert location where a woman was trapped under a semi leaking fuel all around her. They were afraid we wouldn't get there in time if we drove. The guy who landed on the grass to pick me and my photographer up looked like he was 13. I refused to get it until he could at least show me his drivers license. He was indeed over 16- I did not however feel safe in his hands. He dropped us off in the blazing heat. Turns out our live truck didn't get there for another 4 hours. It was a long hot wait in the sage brush.

#3

Trip 3 in a helicopter. Blinding snow storm. A school bus full of kids crashed hours from my station. The blizzard was so bad life flight could not fly to rescue the kids. We however wouldn't take no for an answer and decided to fly. I was not a part of that "we". I was however told I was heading out in the chopper like it or not. I stood my ground and refused to risk my life. My dear friend was told he would then have to go. I felt terrible about it. He dutifully went all the while his photographer crossing himself and saying the Lord's prayer. Eventually the pilot came to his senses... landed and decided no one would go. I ended up driving to the scene of the bus crash on the snowy roads.

Almost #4

Trip 4- was with the Utah National guard... I was supposed to fly with them through the narrow walls of rock near the grand canyon. It was supposed to be a high paced practice flight for combat. I know they are professionals... I even agreed to go... but when it came down to it... I couldn't do it. Too many bad experiences... and I'd just covered a helicopter crash in thick fog where a life flight helicopter had gone down just a mile from my station.

Helicopters scare me because unlike planes they can't glide down to the ground. They seem to drop like rocks. Helicopters are also sent on errands where there is a rush, some kind of trouble or someone needing help. I see how they are useful... but that doesn't change my mind on how scary they are.

Feel free to correct me if you feel differently.

And P.S. Ryan in SkyFox- I'm praying for you!