Night-time military helicopter flights over downtown Los Angeles this week are part of training exercises to familiarize military personnel with urban settings and prepare them for future assignments overseas, according to authorities.
The helicopters, which have appeared nightly for almost a week, have attracted the attention of residents as they hover over downtown landmarks like City Hall, or maneuver quickly between office skyscrapers on Bunker Hill. While many residents speculated that the diving and climbing helicopters were part of a movie shoot, authorities confirmed Wednesday that they were part of a joint exercise.
A short notice saying the LAPD would be supporting an urban military exercise was posted on the department’s official blog.
The notice says the exercises started June 15 and are scheduled to end Saturday and that they will occur throughout Greater Los Angeles.
Authorities said training sites and times have been selected so they do not disrupt the daily routines of businesses and residents. Safety precautions have also been taken to protect the public and military personnel. The training is not open to the public.
— Richard Winton and Dan Weikel
LAPD Supports Urban Military Training Exercises
Los Angeles: From June 15-27, 2009, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) will be providing support for joint military training exercises in and around the greater Los Angeles area.
The operations will be routine training exercises conducted by military personnel, designed to ensure the military’s ability to operate in urban environments, prepare forces for upcoming overseas deployments and meet mandatory training certification requirements.
Training sites have been carefully selected so that activities do not interfere with the daily routines of the local populace. Safety precautions have also been taken to prevent risk to the general public, as well as to military personnel involved. The training is not open to the public.
Questions or concerns may be directed to Officer Steve Scallon at 213-305-4685.
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