KNX - Airborne Traffic

[david]

Lately the traffic reporters have been "phoning it in" to the traffic anchor, i.e, relaying their reports on inferior phone quality connections from a studio or room somewhere where than airborne in a plane or helicopter ("jetcopter"). Has KNX cut costs by grounding its eyewitness traffic reporters, or is this a temporary issue? The sound quality is poor. If airborne coverage is now a thing of the past for KNX's "Traffic on the 5s", at least have the quality of the traffic reporters' sound connection be studio quality.
KFI eliminated its "KF-EYE in the SKY" a few years ago. KNX was keeping the airborne approach alive, at least until very recently.

 

[stewie]

Lately the traffic reporters have been "phoning it in" to the traffic anchor, i.e, relaying their reports on inferior phone quality connections from a studio or room somewhere where than airborne in a plane or helicopter ("jetcopter"). Has KNX cut costs by grounding its eyewitness traffic reporters, or is this a temporary issue? The sound quality is poor. If airborne coverage is now a thing of the past for KNX's "Traffic on the 5s", at least have the quality of the traffic reporters' sound connection be studio quality.
KFI eliminated its "KF-EYE in the SKY" a few years ago. KNX was keeping the airborne approach alive, at least until very recently.

Los Angeles = Traffic. Let's hope they're not cutting back.

 

[TeaPartyDude]

with all the traffic cameras out there are the airborne traffic aircraft really needed anymore?

 

[LKellerIII]

with all the traffic cameras out there are the airborne traffic aircraft really needed anymore?

In the Bay Area, airborne traffic is done. IIRC - the last copter was grounded 2 or 3 years ago. Stationary cameras can do the job much more cheaply and more efficiently. A place as spread out as LA would certainly need more cameras, but it seems to me that traffic copters and planes are dinosaurs now.

 

[Oscar Madison]

with all the traffic cameras out there are the airborne traffic aircraft really needed anymore?

No, they are not. Not just cameras but road sensors linked to computer displays that show when and were traffic has slowed and by how much. Helicopters are so 60s. So are radio traffic reports in the age of GPS devices which provide customized alerts for your actual location and route.