Electronic News Gathering!

"There's Value in the View From Above!"

As they currently do in countless growing and competitive media markets across the US, and the Midwest, helicopters remain the optimum and irreplaceable platform for high-tech heliborne Electronic News Gathering (ENG) services. The helicopter is the tool of today’s leading news agencies and reporting departments, and Vertical Services Integration can provide a safe, effective, and affordable aerial news platform for use by public and private news media outlets and agents, particularly for source video, live news coverage, or broadcast quality documentation.

Leading agencies in television, radio, and the print media, all who wish to enhance their coverage capabilities to their customers with aerial footage and short-notice or long-reaching media events, are increasingly relying on aerial footage from helicopters to provide them the ‘edge’ in today’s growing and competitive news gathering market. Media competition fuels the need for an aerial platform which can provide unparalleled market penetration and coverage options. This can include special event coverage, or breaking news events which are not possible to be adequately or effectively portrayed to the public through conventional land-based video coverage, or whose breath of scope or immediacy require quicker response and more flexible coverage options.

Sky Shot VSI can provide simple media transport to expedite on-site response for breaking news events in distant locations across the viewing area, acquire airborne video clips, provide “Live” aerial video or audio broadcasts, or simply to compete with live internet streaming video feeds from independent agencies and news sources.

Photojournalism can reach new proportions of insight, perspective, and completeness.

Vertical Services Integration is locally owned and operated, and dispatched 24/7 to insure more immediate and thorough coverage of breaking news or local and distant events. Helicopters can stay above and out of the way of emergency services, while simultaneously providing large view coverage, awareness, and documentation of critical scenes and events. In contrast to traditional fixed wing options, VSI can provide many media outlets an improved and unmatched aerial platform from altitudes as low as 300 ft., as opposed to 1000 ft, and speeds of 30 knots instead of 80 knots, and even stationary hovering, flight conditions favorable.

VSI’s use of the Robinson R44 makes it the logical choice for TV and broadcast stations seeking maximum flight time for their money. The R44 operates with speed and endurance capabilities comparable with that of turbine engine helicopters (Bell 206-“JetRanger”), which traditionally has 3-5 times the operating costs of the Robinson piston helicopters. Decreased operating costs translates to decreased costs to customers, which means that use of the R44 aerial platform can often provide nearly twice the news coverage hours for the same budget.

The R44 helicopter is flexible enough to be configured for each station’s mission needs (doors-off, night illumination) and provides a comfortable and convenient work environment for on-air talent and engineering staff (air conditioning, bubble windows). VSI’s trained and experience commercial pilots decide if it’s safe to fly, so no insight or risk assessment is needed by station personal or staff. A culture of safety begins with the owner and extends to every staff member. Safety is operational rule #1, and we will never compromise safety for potentially increased returns or unrealistic customer satisfaction.

For dedicated and long-term contract customers, a complete turnkey solution can be acquired to enhance live broadcasts, airborne engineering options, ‘live’ talent interviews, and name and station recognition. Robinson Helicopter Company is the only manufacture of a completely turnkey ENG solution without major after-market add-on equipment.

Volume discounts are available for contract and guaranteed flight coverage.

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Did You Know...

VSI’s high availability and reliability will be the key to a stations consistent and valued ENG coverage for video, audio, and print media customers.
Vertical Services Integration can provide an immediate and affordable platform for aerial coverage without the huge acquisition costs, maintenance expenses, or crew training and retention costs.