Low-Flying Helicopter Spooks College Heights Residents

Update 3:39 p.m. Dominion Virginia Power spokeswoman Le-Ha Anderson confirmed today that the utility provider is using a helicopter in this area to inspect transmission lines. Here's a video on YouTube of a similar helicopter hovering above power lines for Dominion Virginia Power.

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The Fredericksburg Police Department said Thursday a few people have called to report a low-flying helicopter in the College Heights area.

Fredericksburg Police spokeswoman Natatia Bledsoe said an officer who checked out the area thought that the helicopter's occupants were checking out power lines, but the police have no idea where the chopper is from.

The black helicopter was hovering above power lines near and then switched across U.S. 1 and hovered above the highway for a few minutes before flying away toward Cowan Boulevard.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, helicopters may be operated less than the minimum altitudes prescribed by law because of the helicopter's unique operating characteristics, "the most important of which is its ability to execute pinpoint emergency landings during power failure."

"Further, the helicopter's increased use by law enforcement and emergency medical service agencies requires added flexibility in the application of many FAA provisions," the FAA website says.