The thunderous sound a helicopter makes as it flies over your house is hard not to notice. But why would a helicopter be flying over your house anyway?
Well, the most common reason why helicopters might be flying over your house is either because your residential property is over a military flight path, or law enforcement has a good reason to do so.
However, as there are many types of helicopters, this means that they are used in all sorts of capacities besides military and law enforcement, so a helicopter may be flying over your house for another reason.
From the U.S. Air Force and Army to the National Guard and Navy, helicopters have an important role to play in all major military branches.
Military Helicopter Flying Over Houses
Some of these military branches may have bases that are located in an area that is near your house. Helicopters might therefore need to fly over your house during training operations and to get back to base.
Police
There are several reasons why you might notice a police helicopter flying over your house.
Police helicopters play a very important role in law enforcement and have the unique advantage of being able to track the movement of suspects thanks to being equipped with thermal imaging equipment and spotlights, as well as being able to survey a large area.
Violent crimes in progress, pursuits, property crimes, traffic stops, and perimeters are the most common reasons why you might hear a helicopter flying overhead.
A LAPD Police Helicopter Circling
Police helicopters also come in handy when there is a large public gathering taking place and the department wants to be able to better monitor everything that is going on.
Search and rescue operations are another common reason why you might see and hear a helicopter flying over residential areas.
Civilian
It’s also possible that a civilian helicopter is flying over your house. This could be for several reasons, as helicopters are used in dozens of industries.
This might include the media, healthcare, agriculture, as a personal pilot for executives or celebrities, flight instruction, and more.
How to Find Out Why a Helicopter Is Flying Over Your House
There is a very useful app called Citizen that tells you why a helicopter might be flying over your house.
The company monitors data from 911 calls 24/7 and will provide details about whatever the helicopter happens to be investigating in your area.
Citizen App can be helpful for finding out why a helicopter is flying over your house
So while you might not be able to do much about the noise, at least you can find out why a helicopter is annoyingly flying overhead.
How Low a Helicopter is Allowed to Fly
According to FAR 91.119, which is the relevant regulation that sets out the minimum safe altitudes allowed for flight, except when necessary for takeoff or landing, a helicopter is legally able to fly:
Over congested areas – Over any congested area of a city, town, or settlement, or over any open-air assembly of persons, an altitude of 1,000 feet above the highest obstacle within a horizontal radius of 2,000 feet of the aircraft.
Over other than congested areas – An altitude of 500 feet above the surface except over open water or sparsely populated areas. In that case, the aircraft may not be operated closer than 500 feet to any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure.
In other words, in a congested area, a helicopter is not allowed to fly any lower than 1,000 feet over the highest obstacle.
In a sparsely populated area, a helicopter is not allowed to fly any lower than 500 feet to any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure including your house.
Diagram showing FAR 91.119 Regulations
However, note that FAR 91.119 also states that the “helicopter’s increased use by law enforcement and emergency medical service agencies requires added flexibility.”
Military aircraft operations are not subject to the same FAA regulations, which means they can also fly at lower altitudes.
You Can Report a Helicopter For Flying Over Your House
If you want to report a helicopter for flying too low over your house, you can contact your local FSDO (Flight Standards District Office), which serves as local representatives of the FAA.
As part of their investigation, they will check flight records with air traffic control information, and whether there have been other sightings.
Helen Krasner holds a PPL(A), with 15 years experience flying fixed-wing aircraft; a PPL(H), with 13 years experience flying helicopters; and a CPL(H), Helicopter Instructor Rating, with 12 years working as a helicopter instructor.
Helen is an accomplished aviation writer with 12 years of experience, having authored several books and published numerous articles while also serving as the Editor of the BWPA (British Women Pilots Association) newsletter, with her excellent work having been recognized with her nomination of the “Aviation Journalist of the Year” award.
Helen has won the “Dawn to Dusk” International Flying Competition, along with the best all-female competitors, three times with her copilot.
