WRAL is mourning the loss of a commanding presence, Sky 5 Chief Pilot Steve Wiley.

For more than three decades, Wiley soared high as an innovator in aerial newsgathering, delivering incomparable images of damage from hurricanes and tornadoes, rescues, fires, chases and countless other breaking news scenes. He also put WRAL in place to capture many magnificent moments, including the Tall Ships sailing along the North Carolina coast. And he helped Make-A-Wish deliver for a young boy who dreamed of flying in Sky 5.

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Wiley was born in England, part of an aviation family. His father worked for years in the airline industry.

The younger Wiley took to helicopters, showing the view from the sky over Manhattan for WABC-TV and then over the biggest stories across North Carolina for WRAL-TV. He always seemed to be airborne.

"As much as I flew with him, as much as we worked together, we were friends first," WRAL News photographer Keith Baker said. "I used to joke with him. I have spent more New Year's Eves with him than I have my wife, because we would fly every New Year's Eve over Raleigh and shoot the fireworks."

WRAL News assignment editor Mary Alice Boliek was often on the other end of the two-way radio, working with Wiley on breaking news and special assignments.

"Once you got to his heart, he was just the sweetest man," she said, "but you had to get there."

For WRAL Documentary photographer Jay Jennings, "Some of my absolute favorite days in 40-plus years of working at Ch. 5 were working with Steve Wiley."

Before he transitioned to WRAL's documentary unit, Jennings and Wiley shaped the photographic landscape of local sports coverage.

"We called him Captain Steve because he was the captain. When you sat down, there was never any doubt of who was in charge in that chopper," Jennings said.

Ed Wilson, WRAL News chief photographer, was another who logged many hours in Sky 5 with Wiley.

"From now, until the time I leave this place, when I look up and see Sky 5, I'm thinking of Steve Wiley," he said. "He made Sky 5 what it is."

Wiley was WRAL's longest serving Sky 5 pilot. WRAL News Director Rick Gall said, “Through it all, Steve always made sure that safety was the top priority. His safety record was impeccable, extraordinary. People’s lives were paramount, and he treated the helicopter like he owned it himself.  His dependability was exceptional.”

Wiley passed away Wednesday morning at home. His legacy will live on in the two pilots he hired and trained to take over in Sky 5.