Kobe Bryant: Private helicopters ferry LA elite above traffic

Emergency helicopters such as those used during wildfires are a frequent sight in the skies above Los Angeles. [Courtesy]

Police, firefighters, news channels and tourists: helicopters are a constant buzz in the Los Angeles skies, but only a few wealthy people like Kobe Bryant could afford to use them on a daily basis.

The expensive, rapid option is restricted to a handful of businessmen and celebrities -- including the late basketball legend -- seeking to avoid the Californian city's notoriously clogged roads.