Free Radio Special Remembers 9/11 From the Air in NYC

Arthur Anderson, Brian McKinley, Tom Kaminski and Andrew Schmertz, from left, are shown at Radio Waves Studios working on the radio special.

A special radio program looking back at the events of Sept. 11, 2001, in New York City is being offered free to U.S.-based radio stations.

Stations can download the program via the links at the end of this article.

It’s called “Any Other Tuesday: Reporting on 9/11 From the Air.” It is an in-depth special that explores “the biggest breaking news story of the century from the first news helicopter on the scene.”

The program is hosted by Andrew Schmertz, a long-time New York news reporter, and is produced by Sue Zizza and Brian McKinley for McK Audio Productions and SueMedia Productions.

“For pilot Arthur Anderson and reporters Tom Kaminski of WCBS(AM) and Brian McKinley of WBBR(AM) and WABC(TV), it was an ordinary and quiet day until the terror attacks happened while they were live on the air,” the producers said in an announcement.

“This 25th anniversary conversation takes us inside the helicopter of the crew who told the story live on the radio and showed the first broadcast images to the world. This is not only a history of a breaking news event, but a story of teamwork, friendship and community.”

The show is produced as two one-hour specials.

The first hour looks at the inner workings of the traffic helicopter team on 9/11, “almost in real time.”

The second hour is a 25th anniversary conversation in which the crew talks about their teamwork and the legacy of their coverage.

“The two hours are intended to run from 7 to 9 a.m. Eastern as the towers were hit, or stations can opt to air only the second hour from 8 to 9 a.m. Eastern.” No commercial or stations breaks are included in the two programs.

A photo of the helicopter used that day.

The first hour runs 52:13 and the second hour runs 50:57, giving stations time for top-of-the-hour breaks and other content.

For public stations the program will be available free at PRX.org beginning Aug. 24 as well as through the Content Depot at NPR Distribution.

For commercial stations Radio World has posted links at the bottom of this story where the special can be downloaded for free.

In the New York area, stations WRHU(FM) at Hofstra University and WMSC(FM) at Montclair State University are planning to carry the programs. Both stations have connections to the show participants.

For more information email Sue Zizza at [email protected].

Bios

Here is more info about the participants in the radio special, from the producers:

Arthur Anderson has been a full-time pilot for Helicopters Inc. for 26 years. On 9/11 he was filling in as the pilot for Traffic Helicopter 8BQ.

Tom Kaminski is a New York-based helicopter reporter and photojournalist in NewsCopter7 for ABC7 Eyewitness News. He spent 36 years at WCBS Newsradio 880.

Brian McKinley spent six years in the front seat of Traffic Helicopter 8BQ covering news and traffic for Bloomberg Radio WBBR(AM), WABC(TV) and Shadow Traffic; he now teaches high school social studies.

Brian McKinley in helicopter 8BQ in a 2006 photo.

Michael Dillon worked in aviation and ENG operations in New York for 53 years. He was the pilot for nearly all major newsgathering helicopters in New York City, as well as chief mechanic and management for the New York branch of Helicopters Inc.

Mark Leonard worked as a traffic reporter in New York City for 25 years and was featured on dozens of stations including WBBR(AM) as Jack Austin, WCBS(AM) as Mark Leonard and WINS(AM) as Ken Daniels. On 9/11 he was the in-studio traffic anchor for morning drive for WBBR.