‘It’s terrifying:’ TV News Engineer talks about repairs at 1,300 feet

ORLANDO, Fla. – For several people going to perform implies driving to the place of work and logging into their laptop or computer, but for Information 6 Servicing Supervisor Ben Vaughn the working day starts 1,300 ft up in the air.

Vaughn has labored as an engineer at Information 6 in Orlando considering that 2018.

When he 1st accepted the gig, he explained he did not know it would require likely hundreds of ft up into the air to make repairs to a Television information tower.

Vaughn spoke with Florida’s Fourth Estate hosts Matt Austin and Ginger Gadsden about how he came to Information 6.

“I was in online video post-generation in New York for 20 decades. When I took this position, I was like, ‘Oh, I can work on equipment and computer systems,’” he explained.

Not extended after he was hired, he stated there was an challenge at the tower. He said he was anxious the first time he experienced to make a repair service so large above the floor.

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“I basically never stood up the complete time I was up there. I was on my fingers and knees. Definitely terrified,” Vaughn mentioned.

About time, despite the swaying, clanking and vibrating, Vaugh said he has gotten a great deal a lot more at ease doing the job on a 1,300-foot-large system, but he appreciates he has to be careful.

When he does go up, he explained he often has a companion with him.

“If 1 individual receives incapacitated, you simply cannot phone Orange County Fire Rescue, they can not get you. So, just one person has to be in a position to get the other human being off the tower, get them into the elevator,” he explained.

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But, when you consider of an elevator, it is not just one of people fancy ones you see in a lodge. It seems to be more like a tiny metal cage and when two adult males are driving in it collectively for 26 minutes up and 26 minutes down, things can get tight.

Vaughn reported he typically rides “belly to belly” and that “Larry and I have spent a large amount of near time collectively.”

Most just lately the duo went up the tower to correct an antenna that will allow viewers at house to see the signal from the Sky 6 helicopter stay. Vaughn claimed he and the engineering department go up twice a calendar year just to repair, replace or examine these antennas.

When they go up Vaughn claimed, it is significant to make confident you do not go up too higher.

“You’d die… you are talking about an tremendous volume of RF power. I indicate, we frequently, close to the base of the tower, you’ll see useless birds and whatnot. I signify, it’s like getting in a microwave,” he explained. “If you were to go any better than, say 1,500 ft, then you would have to don an RF alarm, related to a radiation alarm.”

As with everything else in Florida, Vaughn stated weather also performs a factor in when engineers can go up the tower to make repairs.

“In Florida, you are off that tower by just one o’clock. If it is carried out or not, you’re off,” he claimed.

The rationale? The large danger of lightning strikes.

When you are making an attempt to get down, if for some rationale, the elevator does not get the job done, Vaugh reported, which is where by your protection harness comes into engage in.

“There’s a ladder” and you would have to lock and unlock your harness the full way down.

“You far better have pleasant boots on. Or else, the insides of your feet are likely to be destroyed,” he stated.

Irrespective of the inherent risk concerned, Vaughn stated he and the full engineering workforce at News 6 is fully commited to accomplishing regardless of what it requires.

“We all have a widespread goal, and that goal is to make positive that the station stays on the air,” Vaughn stated.

To master far more, test out Florida’s Fourth Estate. You can down load it from where ever you hear to podcasts or observe it anytime on News 6+.

For inquiries, you can achieve out to Florida’s Fourth Estate producer Tiffany Browne.