Desiree Horton

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Desiree Horton (nickname: Chopper Chick) was with KTLA 5 in Los Angeles from April 2005 to October 2005, flying their helicopter and reporting traffic and breaking news for the Morning News. From 2001 to 2005, she flew and reported for KABC 7 (also in LA).

The Telecopter was invented by KTLA in 1958. Still, Horton is the only female helicopter pilot/on-camera reporter in the history of Los Angeles television.

Born (May 18, 1971) and raised in North Hollywood, Calif., Horton has been flying helicopters since she was 19 years old. She has flown traffic watch, tours, frost patrol, charter, medical and organ transport. She's also worked on movies where her helicopter served as an aerial camera platform. [1] For other films, Horton and the copter have appeared on camera. She is one of just a handful of female SAG/AFTRA chopper pilots.

In the summer, Horton fights fires by helicopter for the United States Forest Service (only about 20 women are certified by USFS to do this). In the winter, she reports breaking news in the evening and at night for KNBC 4 in Los Angeles.

[edit] Very Popular with Viewers [2]

When KTLA replaced Horton late in 2005, popular media-tracking website 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.

Viewers from as far as Canada wrote to complain that Horton was no longer on the Morning News. Rather remarkable considering she usually covered Los Angeles traffic and local breaking news which, ordinarily, wouldn't be of much interest to Canadians.

Innocent Bystander described Horton and viewers' reaction to her: "A helicopter pilot who stole our collective hearts when she appeared on KTLA's morning news reporting traffic AND flying the copter." [3]

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. But as much as she loves this kind of work, Horton doesn't want to give up reporting, either. Fans, too, have made it clear they want to again see her on television--at least after fire season.

Little wonder. At 5' 7", with long, dark (most of the time) hair and hazel eyes, Horton looks more like a model or a movie star than an aerial firefighter. In January 2006, when she reported to Abilene, TX, with the Forest Service, fellow pilots thought someone was playing a joke on them when she was introduced as "the new pilot." [4]

[edit] Wanted to be a Helicopter Pilot Since Childhood

Even as a child, she was determined to become a helicopter pilot: "I wanted to fly like a bird." Barely out of high school, she set out to achieve that goal. But it wasn't easy. Flight lessons are expensive, she didn't have the money, and couldn't get a loan. Undeterred, Horton worked two jobs (at a car dealership and a pharmacy) for 2 1/2 years to pay for her training: "I could only afford to take lessons once a week or once every other week as I made the money to pay for them." She also washed local pilot/reporter Scott Reiff's helicopter in exchange for flying hours.

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

Horton is very close to her mom. Her KTLA bio even stated: "One of the most cherished people in her life is her mother." [5] Still, in one sense, Horton has to be a mother's worst nightmare. Just imagine having your beautiful, and only, daughter saying she "enjoys feeling the warmth" of the fires when she has to fly low (and with the helicopter's doors off) to attack them. Or how much she loves landing on those tiny makeshift landing spots in the mountains.

Apparently, even flying a complex machine while simultaneously reading traffic reports, or fighting fires, isn't enough excitement for Horton. In her free time, she likes to ride motorcycles and snowboard. Recently, she took up surfing and dirtbike riding. [6]