Chopper 9 pilot celebrates 20 years with Channel 9 family

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Friday marks Andy Holt's 20-year anniversary as part of the Channel 9 family, which makes him the longest running news pilot in the Charlotte area.

• CLICK to see more images of Andy and Chopper 9

Over the years, Holt has flown three different Chopper 9 helicopters. The current Chopper 9 is a Bell LongRanger 4, which can reach speeds of 130 mph.

Holt said he loves the news business, flying to cover breaking news and being first on the scene of a story.

• MEET Chopper 9 pilot Andy Holt

Holt spent more than 20 years flying helicopters for the military, both active duty and reserve. He flew the mine-sweeping MH-53E helicopter for 13 years for the U.S. Navy and the OH-58 for 7 years for the U.S. Army.

Holt is not only the longest running news pilot in Charlotte, but also one of the longest running in the entire country.

Congratulate Andy on Facebook:

<div id="fb-root"></div><script>(function(d, s, id) {  var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];  if (d.getElementById(id)) return;  js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;  js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.3";  fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));</script><div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/wsoctv/videos/892575534112471/" data-width="300"><div class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/wsoctv/videos/892575534112471/"><p>Please LIKE this post to congratulate Andy Holt, our Chopper 9 Skyzoom pilot! http://on.wsoctv.com/1LCtMUCToday marks...</p>Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/wsoctv">WSOC-TV</a> on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/wsoctv/videos/892575534112471/">Friday, September 25, 2015</a></blockquote></div></div>

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