Families: TV should rethink chopper use

PHOENIX, July 29 (UPI) -- The families of a Phoenix pilot and cameraman killed in an in-flight collision say the U.S. government needs stronger regulations for news helicopters.

Scott Bowerbank, a pilot for KTVK, Channel 3, and cameraman Jim Cox died July 27, 2007. The collision also killed KNXV, Channel 15's Craig Smith, the pilot, and Rick Krolak, the cameraman.

On the second anniversary of the crash Monday, the families of the Channel 3 crew announced they had settled a wrongful-death lawsuit for an undisclosed amount of money, The Arizona Republic reported. They also asked news stations to evaluate policies on the use of helicopters and urged federal regulators to adopt more stringent rules.

"We want to see changes to how they fly and how many helicopters fly," Rusty Bowerbank, the Channel 3 pilot's father, said at a news conference.

The two helicopters were getting footage of a police chase. A reconstruction of the crash determined the Channel 15 helicopter hit the Channel 3 helicopter, which was hovering in place.