So maybe Channel 9 had reasons. And it sure sounds that way. I may be low in the News 9 food chain, but I heard what happened that night... and it's amazing he wasn't fired on the spot.

Oh, and take a look at this. Mason was the pilot:
http://www.faa.gov/data_research/accident_incident/preliminary_data/media/J_0725_N.txt

Hmm...gonna have to call BS on this one. Just doesn't smell right. The blessing of anonymous posters who have no accountability for what is posted.

Sounds like someone closer to the situation that is preaching sour grapes.

I may be low on the KFOR totem pole but the account and accident that sammie has given is the same as I have heard so I dont dismiss it.

Ill quote someone in the know..: Mason is done as a tv chopper pilot in this city"

I may be low on the KFOR totem pole but the account and accident that sammie has given is the same as I have heard so I dont dismiss it.

Ill quote someone in the know..: Mason is done as a tv chopper pilot in this city"


Then please explain why he's already under contact with another local TV Station!!

So maybe Channel 9 had reasons. And it sure sounds that way. I may be low in the News 9 food chain, but I heard what happened that night... and it's amazing he wasn't fired on the spot.

Oh, and take a look at this. Mason was the pilot:
http://www.faa.gov/data_research/accident_incident/preliminary_data/media/J_0725_N.txt

According to Helihub.com, the copter in that crash is owned by Interstate Helicopter in Bethany and is apparently leased to KTUL Channel 8 in Tulsa, FWIW.

[/B]

Then please explain why he's already under contact with another local TV Station!!

Which station?

According to this the Helicopter incident claimed in a previous post was piloted by Mason. He was flying for KTUL out of Tulsa??
23-Jul-11 N118TV Bell 206 Randlett, US-Oklahoma
Helihub RSS Feed

Struck powerlines and force landed. It is believed that this helicopter operates for the ABC channel 8 KTUL under the name “Ranger 8″

Date
23-Jul-11
Make
Bell
Model
B206
Reg
N118TV
Country
US-Oklahoma
Location
Randlett
CivilMilitary
Civil
MSN
2844
Operator
Interstate-Helicopter

You can't fire the guy that saved "Bambi" on a frozen lake! Maybe it's time for a new News Director.

I know, I'm late to the party. Just got around to reading some of this. Don't know if it was mentioned in this thread, but 'Bambi' the wayward deer actually died right after he got off the frozen pond. Seriously. They were not allowed to report it (doesn't make quite as good of a story) but the deer had a heart attack and died presumably (fairly common with stressed deer).

I would ask, "....and, what is your point?"
But I know that it has something to do with the otter rescued from the oil spill out in California, cleaned up, then released back into the wilds of the ocean . . . only to be eaten by a killer shark as the local high school band (from Bodega Bay where Alfred Hitchcock filmed "The Birds") played on . . .

Ironically, the actual Bambi ran out in front of Walt Disney's Bentley and caused extensive damage to the right front fender while he was on a trip to Wisconsin. (Walt. On the trip. Not Bambi. Native.)

Late? Party?
Whut Party? . . .

I know, I'm late to the party. Just got around to reading some of this. Don't know if it was mentioned in this thread, but 'Bambi' the wayward deer actually died right after he got off the frozen pond. Seriously. They were not allowed to report it (doesn't make quite as good of a story) but the deer had a heart attack and died presumably (fairly common with stressed deer).

To bad you weren't out there with your video camera to make sure the public was informed. :-P lol

I know, I'm late to the party. Just got around to reading some of this. Don't know if it was mentioned in this thread, but 'Bambi' the wayward deer actually died right after he got off the frozen pond. Seriously. They were not allowed to report it (doesn't make quite as good of a story) but the deer had a heart attack and died presumably (fairly common with stressed deer).

Why couldn't you keep your mouth shut? Thx for ruining it. :-(

To bad you weren't out there with your video camera to make sure the public was informed. :-P lol

:LolLolLol

I guess it's like Dr. Vic said about his monster . . .
"There's more to this 'necroing' threads than meets the aye."

*a tip o' the hat to Venture for the term "necroing". =)

Why couldn't you keep your mouth shut? Thx for ruining it. :-(

Yeah, its always better when the news plays something up as such a touching moment (over and over again) when in reality they know the truth and forbid anyone from talking about it because its ruins their marketing of it and their brand.

I know, I'm late to the party. Just got around to reading some of this. Don't know if it was mentioned in this thread, but 'Bambi' the wayward deer actually died right after he got off the frozen pond. Seriously. They were not allowed to report it (doesn't make quite as good of a story) but the deer had a heart attack and died presumably (fairly common with stressed deer).

I could sure go for a bowl of Venison chili.

I could sure go for a bowl of Venison chili.


Bambi Bit Chili - another tasty MIO product

Bambi Bit Chili - another tasty MIO product

This is not funny after Brian reported on Bambi's death. >_<

This is not funny after Brian reported on Bambi's death. >_<

See Godzilla vs. Bambi... Nuff said.

See Godzilla vs. Bambi... Nuff said.

That's not even fair... Nuff said. :chef:

Bambi Bit Chili - another tasty MIO product

Oh, I'll tell you what... Twin Peaks has some REALLY REALLY good venison chili. I was very impressed.

Any news about where Jim Gardner went? Channel 4 still shows him as the pilot but you never hear about him anymore.

Any news about where Jim Gardner went? Channel 4 still shows him as the pilot but you never hear about him anymore.

Still there waiting for his contract to end. Channel 4 is keeping him out of sight.

news9 has someone to be a pilot until Jim Gardner leaves Channel 4

Still there waiting for his contract to end. Channel 4 is keeping him out of sight.

It really shows how cruel the people are at KFOR. I used to be a huge fan, but since I got recruited onto KOCO, I haven't been watching KFOR much. I feel bad for Jim having to work for them while they all just ignore him and not giving due credit.

It really shows how cruel the people are at KFOR. I used to be a huge fan, but since I got recruited onto KOCO, I haven't been watching KFOR much. I feel bad for Jim having to work for them while they all just ignore him and not giving due credit.

i only watch KFOR during they noon newscast when i am at home other then that i watch KOCO 5

It really shows how cruel the people are at KFOR. I used to be a huge fan, but since I got recruited onto KOCO, I haven't been watching KFOR much. I feel bad for Jim having to work for them while they all just ignore him and not giving due credit.

Why on earth would you feel sorry for a helicopter pilot that's making close to if not over six figures, and probably just got a huge raise by switching over to Channel 9?

he might of left KFOR because of more money that 9 is giving him i don't fell bad at all that he is leaving KFOR

I feel bad for Jim having to deal with the disrespect that KFOR is doing to him. They ignore him. They don't mention him. They don't let him talk on the air. All nothing. He is still an employee and his contract is still active until later this year. Its like the entire KFOR shunned him for leaving.

Right now Jim isnt the one flying for KFOR, he is medically restricted from flying right now. His understudy is flying..

that is why they didn't mention his name when they use bob more chopper 4

I feel bad for Jim having to deal with the disrespect that KFOR is doing to him. They ignore him. They don't mention him. They don't let him talk on the air. All nothing. He is still an employee and his contract is still active until later this year. Its like the entire KFOR shunned him for leaving.

That's pretty standard, Thunder. If a station is losing a high-profile employee to a competitor, they try to blunt their popularity by taking them off the air for a while. KOCO did the same thing with Mike Morgan when he was moving to Ch. 4.

So is Jim Gardner still going to KWTV? Just tonight, I saw a commercial on 9 advertising their new helicopter pilot who is a former Army Blackhawk pilot.

That ad has been playing for a week or two I think. Had the same thought if they just tossed in the towel on the idea.

It is possible that KFOR gave Jim a better offer to stay on board.

It is possible that KFOR gave Jim a better offer to stay on board.

I would think if they did then they would be using his name again on air, which they haven't.

I would think if they did then they would be using his name again on air, which they haven't.

Or, maybe he decided to go back to California.

KFOR must have found a new pilot because they are airing promo's about a new member to the team being announce Tuesday and the sound of a helicopter starting up, playing in the background.

John Welsh is the new Channel 4 Pilot

John Welsh is the new Channel 4 Pilot

Is Jim Gardner still going to KWTV or is the new trend to replace all the pilots with younger ex army helicopter pilots?

Is Jim Gardner still going to KWTV or is the new trend to replace all the pilots with younger ex army helicopter pilots?

yes he is heading over to news 9

this is from KFOR Facebook page

Thanks to you who have asked what happened to Jim Gardner. Last year Jim decided he wasn’t going to renew his contract to fly Chopper 4. Although he is no longer flying, he’s still with us as an employee in a different capacity. Jim plans to leave when his contract expires later this year. Like you, we wish him well.
So it sounds like he will be joining KWTV next year

employee in a different capacity
So their basically paying him to do nothing until his contract is up. lol

yep exactly i think he really want to go and fly a helicopter but he can't do so

Here's the quote from above:

Thanks to you who have asked what happened to Jim Gardner. Last year Jim decided he wasn’t going to renew his contract to fly Chopper 4. Although he is no longer flying, he’s still with us as an employee in a different capacity. Jim plans to leave when his contract expires later this year. Like you, we wish him well.

Now here's the translation without all the politically correct garbage:

Please stop hounding us about Jim Gardner. KWTV stole him from us, just like they did Bobbie Miller. We could have let him go immediately, but we're so petty that we are going to keep him here in misery until his contract expires. It's well worth the money to prevent him from doing sweeps coverage at KWTV. We know you wish him well, but we're kinda hoping he dings the NEWS 9 copter and ruins it for a few months. (Not that we're bitter or anything!) ;-)

LOL pretty much.

So July 28th is when they announced the hire internally. Would that be pretty close to the end of his contract? Definitely see where they want to keep him off air for the April/May/June storm season.

. . . . Now here's the translation without all the politically correct garbage:

Please stop hounding us about Jim Gardner. KWTV stole him from us, just like they did Bobbie Miller. We could have let him go immediately, but we're so petty that we are going to keep him here in misery until his contract expires. It's well worth the money to prevent him from doing sweeps coverage at KWTV. We know you wish him well, but we're kinda hoping he dings the NEWS 9 copter and ruins it for a few months. (Not that we're bitter or anything!) ;-)

That was worth reading. I was in a pretty foul mood until I read that. I had been wondering what was going on. At least they didn't shove him down a memory hole. "Jim who? You must be mistaken: There is not now nor has there ever been a helicopter pilot with that name at KFOR.".

That was worth reading. I was in a pretty foul mood until I read that. I had been wondering what was going on. At least they didn't shove him down a memory hole. "Jim who? You must be mistaken: There is not now nor has there ever been a helicopter pilot with that name at KFOR.".

sad thing is thats pretty much what they have done..he's counting down the days until july and I dont blame him. He is a top notch pilot and nice guy. It will be a shame to not see him in the hallways. They may publicly wish him well but he has been treated poorly since

That is sad for Jimmy. He got no work to do through this predicted active storm season. The outbreaks coming up this week will be painful for Jimmy to just sit by doing nothing. :-(

As for Chopper 4's new pilot, which is it... John or Jon? It's been typed both ways on CC.

Jim will probably help in the behind the scenes with the severe weather

Does anyone know what Mason Dunn is doing these days is he still flying News Helicopters?