Occasional Visitors
Here we’ll collect information on helicopters who occasionally fly over DC, but aren’t a regular presence.
Marine One Preparation Testing
- Aircraft Type: Sikorsky S-92
- FAA Registry Number: N948PH
- Trackable on Flightradar24 App: Yes - Link
- Details: A sharp-eyed Washingtonian wrote up noticed a yellow Sikorsky S-92 flying over DC in the summer of 2018 flying over DC. After some research, he intelligently deduced that it is being field testing in anticipation of it’s upcoming responsibility as the Marine One.
National Nuclear Security Administration - Aerial Measuring System
- Aircraft Type: Bell 412
- Details - Update: This took place again in 2020.
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Details: In 2012-2013, a Department of Energy helicopter operated by the National Nuclear Security Administration flew a systematic grid over Washington DC to detect the background radiation in order to establish a baseline that could be compared against in time of emergency. The program is known as the Aerial Measuring System. I recalled seeing it from my office at the time, flying very low and in a tight grid. The testing flights continue to take place in various US cities and may recur in DC at some point.
- Links:
- @helicoptersofdc Video - Nuclear Safety Administration Photography Mission 10/22/24
- Department of Energy in 2021 GAO Washington, D.C. Area Helicopter Noise Report
- CBS News - Nuclear Security Helicopters Testing Radiation Levels Above DC Area
- Full Text of the NNSA Press Release
- An individual’s blogpost describing the overflight
- National Nuclear Security Administration - Aerial Measuring System
- Results of the Scanning
- Video: The Aerial Measuring System in action
- Video: The Aerial Measuring System - B-Roll
- Video: CBS - Searching D.C.’s Radiation
Department of Homeland Security
- Aircraft Type: Airbus Helicopters H125
- FAA Registry Number: N6977A
- Trackable on Flightradar24 App: Yes - Link
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Details: This helicopter finds itself over a wide range of East Coast cities, including occasionally DC. I haven’t been able to figure out yet which part of DHS it works for or what it’s doing over DC though.
- Links
Fairfax County Police
- Aircraft Type: Bell 429 GlobalRanger
- FAA Registry Number: N211FX, N212FX
- Trackable on Flightradar24 App: Yes - Link, Link
- Details: I’ve only seen this once over DC, but I would guess that it might come to DC on occasion for medevac reasons.
Prince George County Police Department
- Aircraft Type: MD 500N
- FAA Registry Number: PG1 and others.
- Trackable on Flightradar24 App: Yes - Link
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Details: I’ve only seen these over DC once or twice, so I don’t think they come often. In part, I think this is because they are not built for medevac. It may also need to land at a DC heliport in order to refuel.
- Links