First News Helicopter
Designed and built one of the first modern news helicopters for live reporting, retrofitting an Aerospatiale AS-350B with broadcasting equipment.
FOUNDING TEAM
Zoey Tur
American broadcast reporter, documentary filmmaker, and commercial pilot who transformed live news reporting through helicopter-based coverage.
Internationally recognized for her groundbreaking work in broadcast journalism, aviation, and advocacy for human rights.
3Emmy Awards
2Murrow Awards
54Lives Saved
40+Years in News
"I didn't just report the news — I lived it from 1,000 feet above."— Zoey Tur
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Pioneered live aerial news coverage.
Tur founded the Los Angeles News Service in the 1980s and revolutionized live news coverage, particularly in breaking news events.
Live Breaking News
First to use an AStar helicopter for live breaking news in a major city, enabling real-time coverage of fast-breaking events.
Police Chase Pioneer
First to televise a high-speed police chase, setting a new standard for news coverage that continues today.
NOTABLE COVERAGE
Defining moments in broadcast history.
1989Loma Prieta Earthquake
Among the first on the scene, providing aerial coverage of the devastation and collapsed infrastructure following the earthquake in the San Francisco Bay Area.
1992Los Angeles Riots
Tur's footage of the attack on Reginald Denny during the LA riots brought the chaos and violence into living rooms across America, drawing attention to the volatile situation.
1994O.J. Simpson Chase
Tur's helicopter captured the infamous chase that became one of the most-watched live TV events in history.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS
Honored for contributions to journalism.
Emmy Awards
Television News Excellence
2 Edward R. Murrow
Broadcast Excellence
AP Breaking News
Live Event Coverage
NPPA Humanitarian
Lifesaving Actions
Golden Mike Awards
Live News Reporting
Press Club Awards
Documentary Excellence
HEROIC ACTS
The Storm Rescue of 1988
"In January 1988, during a violent storm in Southern California, Tur piloted her AS-350B Eurocopter through 60-knot winds and zero visibility..."
54Lives Saved
60ktWind Speed
22ftWave Height
Her bravery and skill in these extreme conditions made her a hero in addition to her journalistic accomplishments.
PROJECTS AND APPEARANCES
Continuing to shape media.
Films Directed
August Complex
Documentary · 2020
MaxWrist – Killin' the Game
Documentary · 2024
Featured In
Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer
O.J.: Made in America
House of Kardashian
Upcoming
PERSONAL LIFE
Storytelling and adventure.
Outside of her public life, Zoey Tur continues to pursue her lifelong passion for storytelling and adventure.
"Zoey's career and personal journey reflect her remarkable ability to push boundaries and redefine what is possible in both journalism and her personal life."She remains an inspiring figure, dedicated to her craft and to advocating for greater diversity and representation in media.