The police helicopter buzzing around around Canberra for training late at night has generated a number of noise complaints over the past week.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The chopper, which is based in Majura with the Australian Federal Police, is mainly being used to train members of the International Deployment Group to prepare for offshore deployment and emergency operations.
It was also used to help ACT Policing search for missing people in Gungahlin and Dickson on the weekend.
But the police helicopter has generated some frustration for Canberrans.
Four noise complaints were made to Airservices Australia’s Noise Complaint and Information Service between Friday and Tuesday.
Those frustrations were acknowledged by the AFP, who said the training was being conducted at ‘‘varied locations and times, including at night’’ to simulate all types of emergencies.
‘‘The AFP uses various locations to minimise disturbance, however acknowledge that at times people may be disturbed by the noise of the helicopter,’’ a spokeswoman said.
The activities of the helicopter had sparked a number of rumours across Canberra.
Some Canberrans said it was being used to detect drug labs using heat sensors, while others said it was conducting flying patrols of the city late at night.
But the truth is far less exciting, according to the AFP.
‘‘Recent helicopter activity in the ACT geographical area has principally focussed on training in order for IDG members to maintain their requisite skills,’’ a spokeswoman said.