A number of flight accidents in recent years have made the use of helicopters in news coverage controversial. Radio or television reporters are sometimes asked to fly under unsafe conditions simply because competing stations have sent up their reporters. Although pilots have the right to refuse to fly if they feel conditions are dubious, they too may be influenced by journalistic pressures. The National Broadcast Pilots' Association was formed in 1986 and plans soon to initiate flight guidelines that cover (1) specific minimum conditions for flight, (2) enforcement of pilot veto power, (3) mandatory written policies, and (4) withholding story information from pilot. Since any policy decision remains in the hands of executives, 120 news directors were sent questionnaires about the use of helicopters for reporting the news. Responses indicated that executives generally do not perceive a problem in "helicopter journalism" and have little interest in industry-wide guidelines. Only a few stations indicated that they have implemented their own guidelines. The results indicated a number of misconceptions: three news directors insisted that the FAA regulates their use of helicopters, but in fact the FAA is not involved in "helicopter journalism." Others said that guidelines would violate free press rights. Issues raised by this study require further examination, particularly in light of the 10 deaths that occurred in news helicopter crashes during 1986. (Tables of data and a list of 23 references are included.) (AEW)