Where is Vic Lorusso now? Australia’s favourite chopper reporter resurfaces with a shock new career after decades of telling us where the traffic is

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Vic Lorusso is a well-known figure who’s lent his voice to Australian radio and television for a quarter of a century.

Since the beginning of the 21st century, his distinctive voice has become a staple in both cars and homes throughout Sydney, as he broadcasts real-time traffic updates from a helicopter hovering above the metropolis.

After over twenty years, Vic, aged 44, who initially began his career at Australian Traffic Network, now holds the position of CEO in the very same company that provided him with a significant leap in his professional journey.

In July 2023, ATN appointed Vic as their CEO, and he’s guided the publicly traded firm through a highly prosperous brand transformation ever since.

Currently, he oversees a nationwide group of 50 journalists and has broadened the scope of ATN beyond just traffic reports. Now, it provides real-time updates on sports, weather, and breaking news as well.

‘I’ve always loved the business from day one,’ he tells Daily Mail in an exclusive interview.

He mentions that he’s consistently taken an active role beyond just appearing on camera, contributing significantly behind the scenes to develop and grow the business.

When I was offered the chance to head the business, it felt absolutely exhilarating – as if I needed to check if it were all real.

However, despite Vic leading the company to remarkable achievements since becoming CEO in 2023, he has maintained a fervent attachment to his original values.

Or:

Vic may have guided the company towards extraordinary success since 2023, but he’s kept a strong hold on his founding principles with great zeal.

Both sentences convey similar meaning and read easily, making them good paraphrases of the original sentence.

Describing his initial flights from Bankstown Airport for crucial traffic updates, a palpable affection resonates in his words – and this is evident even as he shares a harrowing tale when he narrowly avoided plummeting from a helicopter during the 2003 Canberra bushfires while capturing footage.

Looking back, we had been heading towards Canberra to capture fire footage, but found ourselves ensnared by powerful gusts,” he reminisces.

As I was driving, unexpectedly my passenger door swung wide open. In the chaos, I ended up losing some essential items like my two-way radio, wallet, and keys. Fortunately, we were wearing safety harnesses so neither of us fell out, but I distinctly recall the pilot quickly grabbing me.

The close call didn’t hold Vic down for long; instead, he found himself back in the helicopter the day after, aiming to conquer his jitters.

He mentions that the following day turned out to be a weekend, specifically on Sunday. It was decided then that we would take a flight as a means to conquer the apprehension caused by the recent event.

‘Despite encountering numerous instances of challenging weather conditions that could lead to tricky situations, thankfully, safety has always been our priority and no major incidents have occurred.’

As a young, wide-eyed teenager, Vic harbored the ambition to be a rugby league commentator. Following a short internship at 2GB radio, he eventually secured a position at ATN, marking the start of his career.

He was one of the pioneers who began navigating the skies, offering a groundbreaking method for delivering traffic updates. This way, he helped listeners traverse the congested roads during rush hour.

In other words, Vic’s long and cherished career as a helicopter news reporter almost never got started – a play on words there. Before he could really get airborne, some obstacles nearly stopped him from flying high in his profession.

He recollects, “I completed my initial set of reports for Mix Network (now KIIS) and felt, ‘Wow, this is amazing! I’m broadcasting on the radio, I’m only 19, and everyone is tuned in.’

During my shift midway, I received a call from our former operations manager who asked, “Vic, could you please pace yourself? You’re moving quite fast in the project.

However, things took a turn for the worse when it was subsequently revealed that the management at Mix Network had no intention of welcoming Vic back to their broadcasts, as shared by the founder of ATN later on.

‘[They said] they would never allow me back on the radio because I sounded too young,’ he explains.

At that time, I was quite young, specifically 19 years old. My excitement was palpable, yet I felt a hint of nerves too. If I were in that position now, I’d likely be commentating the traffic as if it were a thrilling race.

‘After that I practised to slow it down and they gave me another shot,’ he adds.

Vic was back on their station full-time six months later and has been for more than two decades. 

He mentions that he works from Monday through Friday each and every weekday, and this routine has been his for a total of 25 years. He humorously adds that with the 22,000 hours he’s spent in the helicopter, he could potentially be qualified to become a pilot.

He stated that he stepped away from the afternoon television shows to give room for our exceptional talents to shine, as they could perform the tasks even more impressively than him.

Though some Australians might feel a bit nostalgic about missing Vic during the afternoons, they can still tune in to catch his traffic updates on KIIS FM’s The Kyle & Jackie O Show and Gold 101.7’s Jonesy & Amanda in the mornings.

Every day, Vic wakes up around 3:15 am to squeeze in some morning exercise, prior to reporting to the ATN Australian office from 4:30 am to 5:00 am. This global company also maintains offices in Brazil, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

He starts broadcasting a short while past 5:30 am and continues until 9:30 am, skillfully balancing his role as a CEO with his helicopter duties during that timeframe.

He often gets asked about juggling full-time traffic reporting alongside being the CEO of ATN, yet his passion simplifies every challenge.

When I find myself not eager to rise in the morning for work commute, that’s likely the day I’ll put away my headphones. I don’t foresee that happening anytime quickly, he notes.

Indeed, it’s evident that Vic graciously credits the smooth growth of ATN, along with the subsequent 35% increase in its stock market value, to his dedicated team. He acknowledges that their efforts significantly contribute to making him appear competent.

This past year has been exceptionally successful in the stock market, yet it’s not just about the numbers. It’s deeply rooted in our team – many of whom have been with us for a considerable amount of time,” he remarks.

Surrounding myself with competent individuals in key roles significantly boosts my productivity. It seems everyone is contributing to making me shine, yet I continuously strive for growth and self-improvement. Every day presents a new opportunity for learning as I navigate through this role.

In the ever-changing corporate landscape, I find joy in remaining authentic, keeping things simple, and remembering where I started – which is rooted in journalism.

But Vic hasn’t let his achievements go to his head. 

Indeed, he continues to identify as a journalist and expresses that it’s been both an honor and a privilege for him to head the Australian business where he initially made his mark.

Apart from work hours and time spent with his spouse Katie and their four kids, Victor lends his services as an auctioneer for charity organizations that support children in his spare time.

This media expert has dedicated an equal amount of effort to his work and traffic reporting, boasting two decades of real-life experience in conducting real estate auctions.

‘I love giving back and helping when people need help,’ he says.

I frequently receive outreach from various charities or individuals in need. Assisting them is not only part of my responsibilities, but it’s also something I genuinely enjoy.

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2025-08-24 05:08