To ask you if helicopters are watching you??

[Sassenach85]

Has anyone noticed helicopters in their area? We have them now day and night - some so low it scared the pets and kids. Some black some yellow some grey. Is this just my area? We all feel unnerved by it a bit

We have a few more but I live near a beauty spot where they have been flying over to spot people breaking the rules.

We’ve noticed a lot recently - but realised we’ve been spending a lot more time in the garden than usual, so thought it was probably that!

There is an RAF base not far off, and these are definitely military ones

Central Scotland as well, yes heard seen more although they do check the pylons near me fairly often. Was also mentioned on the nextdoor group.

No helicopters arent watching me or you. It's people going about their business. Most probably police and military.

They may also be sweeping for large groups. They need to keep up flying hours so if theres no work, they still need to be out.

The only time a police helicopter is looking for someone, personally, is during a crime or if helping search large areas for missing people.

I bet anyone who has ever lived in Belfast is like "What's new?". :o

I don’t think that they are “watching” us here. We’re not that far from a naval airbase and have seen military helicopters a fair bit recently (the large two main rotor ones that I would expect them to be using to transport supplies). Given the direction of travel (all on a flight path that would run between the base and a city that is getting a Nightingale type hospital) my guess is transport of supplies and equipment for the new hospital. Which seems eminently sensible and explicable.

@glendasugarbeanisjudgingyou - I'm from Belfast and I was thinking exactly that! :)

Yep, past couple of days but I live near moorland which is popular with walkers and arsonists so am wondering whether it's to keep an eye on that more than anything.
My OH says the coastal helicopter was overhead last night and we're probably about 20-25 miles away from the sea?

If anything I think the helicopters have been quieter recently, Trooper.

Not round here. And like others I'm near an raft base so get a few normally. Not noticed any for weeks.

But, based on how many of the respondents are saying yes inb central Scotland, there must be an increase near you

Central Scotland here too, we've noticed far more, paticularly in the evenings. I have been looking on the FlightRadar24 website and they aren't on that so I assumed Police. I think they must be checking for gatherings of people in potential hotspots.

One just woke me up. I have definitely noticed an increase but put it down yo me being on the house a lot more so just noticing it more.

I highly doubt they are 'watching us'.

Jesus that’s weird didn’t notice until seen this thread there’s one nearby - we’re midlands

Nope. I live near an army base and next to their training ground and there have been less here

We have. But there's a kid that's been missing for 3 weeks so I assumed it was that.

Perhaps not? 🦆

I think (as do other posters ) that the police will be using their helicopters in the main to keep an eye out for people congregating.

The military helicopters ( e.. the RAF twin rotor Chinooks) will have probably be shifting urgent supplies.

The Air Ambulances will be doing what air Ambulances do.

As mentioned upthread I gather it's quieter in many areas now also many people aren't heads down busy doing whatever they did before lockdown so are possibly more aware of helicopters, helicopter noise. Also having read this thread some people here will now probably be actively looking out for the things..

So whilst there might be more helicopters around in some areas no, I don't think "they", whoever they are, are involved in some sort of massive campaign to watch all of usindividuals...they have better things to do.

Just the local guy going about his business. Quite a few jets on exercises yesterday.

Not helicopters but I've noticed more military planes. I think I'm just noticing more sounds in general because the roads and skies are quieter. Bees and birds sound louder when I'm out for a walk.

London here, less helicopters and planes.

Car traffic is picking up again though.

Training both military and civil making use of the open air space. Also surveying for the same reasons.

Nothing more than that.

@Pussysgalore where abouts are you? I was woken by a helicopter at about 4am here in Lincs which deffo isn't the norm!

We do usually have a helicopter fly the high pressure oil line over the farm every couple of weeks, I've noticed it more recently but probably as there is less other noise pollution other than RAF planes.

Yes definitely! However I live about halfway between an airport and a hospital so had put it down to moving supplies or patients. Dh is emergency services and they are dealing with lots more antisocial behaviour at the moment so it's maybe also in response to that?

No, not at all, no helicopters, no planes. Actually, there was one plane high up in the sky yesterday and my dc shouted enthusiastically "a plane mummy, I can see a plane" and we all admired the plane. We live under a busy flight path and have hundreds of planes passing through each day, normally. It's was quite funny and felt like we were some sort of cave people marvelling at this amazing flying thing in the sky.

I quite like helicopters weird and wouldn't mind seeing some.

Opposite here. There are almost none.

We have a recreational helicopter place near us (flying lessons, once in a lifetime trips etc) that is closed, and we don’t see the usual air ambulances going to traffic accidents.

Would they really be checking for large gatherings at midnight? 1,2, 3 in the morning? I know the sky is quieter with less aeroplanes but I have never in my life seen so many helicopters and at all hours. Especially the very low flying ones. Even dh who is very .... uninterested in stuff like that, was seriously shocked at the proximity of it. I wonder what is going on in central Scotland.