[Chris-Vancouver]

Hi,
Sorry I am likely not in the right place, but I can't find the right place to ask:
What in the world is a helicopter doing over DownTown Vancouver at 3:35 am on Saturday February 6, 2010 circling for 25 minutes and shining a bright light beam at I believe Canada Place.
I called the police and they don't know. Where do I ask ??
The YVR has no contact info on this type ......
Sincerely, Chris
There are other helicopter flights over Vancouver, and I would really like to know what their business is.
Thanks for any tips if you have any.

[Cicero]

Yes you're in the right place and we can assist you.

It may have been a police operation. They use helicopters to look at buildings if they suspect something, e.g. a drug deal or any other crime. The tops of buildings are not easily seen from the ground.

When the DEA (or whatever is your equivalent in Canada) is carrying out such an operation, the ordinary police do not know what is going on. Hence they told you they didn't know. But even if they knew it was a police surveillance helicopter, they won't usually disclose that information to the public.

[Leatherboy2006]

Isn't that the city of the Winter Olympics? I know CNN was reporting on how the host city was increasing security on both the water surrounding the city and in the air.
They stated many of the athletes and fans are arriving already.

[Chris-Vancouver]

I live right on the water where the Olympic Village is. I took a walk there tonight and security is very tight. The security guys are very idle, so they look for anything to do. I seem to be a curious guy, checking things out, looking at security installations, (just feel like I want to know how things work), so sure enough, as I come back from my walk the security guys are huddling together looking into the water at the same spot where I stood before, when I was just idly gazing around. Ahh well.

Anyway, for the purpose of tracking helicopter flights over the Vancouver harbour, (they likely originate from YVR and return to YVR - so they are not like 'tracking an air line that arrives to / departs from YVR') I am still trying to find a way that I can specifically identify such helicopter flights and what things they are trying to do, i.e. aerial photography, surveillance, policing, sight-seeing, etc. I have looked up the control tower telephone number for YVR, and that's the next place I will try. I believe now however, that my leads are about to run dry, because the flight operator (government) could choose to block the flight detail.
Thanks for your patience & thoughts, Chris.

[The_Judge]

Most likely our knowledgable Cicero is dead on. I don't know what else it could have been other than a police helicopter conducting a secret operation. Rest assured, Chris, it was the boys in blue (or whatever color the Mounties wear when their using a 'copter) trying to keep your fair city safe.

[Cicero]

Judge, that advice was from both me and Silent Bob Jerkero, my mentor. I give him all credit for good advice, and I take all blame for other advice.

[Chris-Vancouver]

"Most likely our knowledgable Cicero is dead on.
Judge, that advice was from both me and Silent Bob Jerkero, my mentor. I give him all credit for good advice, and I take all blame for other advice."

THANKS FOR YOUR COLLECTIVE WISDOM -------- GUYS, YOU ARE GREAT.
IT'S A PLEASURE WATCHING THE SKYS IN KNOWLEDGEABLE COMPANY.
Sincerely, Chris-Vancouver, B.C., CANADA