Military helicopters flying regular pattern over 101 in LA

Anyone else notice the regular pattern military choppers have been flying over the 101 in LA lately? They just flew by again - very low - lower than I've ever seen- and that makes twice today. And it seems like this has been a daily occurence lately. Wonder what's going on.....

Have no idea what that's about.

Are they using the airport in Van Nuys? She was in the Valley when she saw them.

:shrug:

freeway bloggers?

the other day, very very low.

I saw them out of my office window at 2:30 going north, then again going south at around 4:45 when I was getting my nails done on the way home. Remarked at work today that I think it's the 3rd time in as many weeks.

Both times car alarms went off and windows shook. x(

They hang out on our balcony and the HUGE noise of the choppers scared the living crap out of them. They dove under our chaise lounge and hid for a very long time. When they fly that low, it is really annoyingly loud and makes the windows rattle. I'd like to know what the reason is for their flying so low. I'm pretty sure they were below FAA regs (but then they're the military, they can do whatever they please, right?)

Helicopters can operate at lower altitudes in conjested areas (cities) then fixed wing aircraft under the FARs (federal aviation regulations) it would be helpful if someone had an idea what kind of helicopters they were.
"military helicopter" isnt very helpful.
Im guessing they were under postive ATC control at all times.
Class Bravo airspace envelopes a huge amount of LA airspace.
There is an ENORMOUS amount of aircraft operating in it.
You need clearance to be in it. There are corridors and other options however, you can fly under it in certain places or over it.
I dont know if military helcopters fly IFR Instrument Flight Rules which is always controlled. or VFR visual flight rules, not always controlled. Controlled being following ATC directions.
Im betting they were ducking under other traffic. Find out what
the airspace is like where you saw them on an aeronautical chart.
There is also a special chart just for helicopters in the LA area.

Where could we find the charts of which you speak? Also, I could pick them out from a group of photos if in-use military 'copters but I wouldn't know where to find the photos.

http://tinyurl.com/yppsk

You can download one here, but kind of hard to read.
The thick blue lines are the Class Bravo airspace,
The big blue numbers in the different sectors give the
floor and ceiling of the airspace there.

For LAX Helicopter Chart you'll have to go to a pilot store.
Usually most airports have an FBO (fixed base operator) that
sells them. Probably let you have any expired ones for free.
The aviation community loves questions :) Any private pilot
would be glad to explain the charts to you.
Its a whole different world up there. Take a flying lesson
someday :) Flying as a passenger on an airliner is NOT the same.

http://www.beapilot.com/indexfl.html

http://www.photovault.com/Link/Technology/Aviation_Helicopters/TAHVolume03.html

lots of links here, Marine, Navy, or Coast Guard birds are likely.

the remote imaging systems for HLS, these powerful systems can see through cars and walls, to spot weapons or whatever they want. Enjoy

Bush don't have a vector, so how the hell can you expect the boys down the chain of command to have one!

The 101 is only a few miles down the road from where I live. I thought they could have been from Vandenburg Air Base, not too far from here.

and they were heading downtown LA (at least that's what it looked like) - they seemed to be going up the 101

Sorry couldn't help it!

eom

The last time it happened, they were "hunting" after some supposed criminals and they were shining a spotlight - just about right into my condo. This time, they had no spotlight. Someone said they might have night vision lighting.

you're in Hollywood for god's sake.

We ALL know what happened last time they did that. ;-)

Explain THAT.

Highway") and they've been buzzing around here a lot. LAPD choppers, too. And yesterday I saw more LAPD cars and bikes on the street than I think I've ever seen on LA streets, at least since the '92 riots.

If I was the knee-jerk :tinfoilhat: type, I'd probably be terrified.

"Fuck it, start dusting the coasts with the bio-chem agent. If we get rid of LA, SF, and NY we'll never lose another election."