Helicopter To Circle Midtown At Low Altitudes While Filming

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — If you notice a helicopter circling parts of Midtown Manhattan for much of Thursday afternoon, don't be alarmed. The blue and white helicopter is making a planned flyover at low altitudes for filming purposes, according to the city office of emergency management.

The flyover began around 8 a.m. and will continue until 6:30 p.m., according to the city. The helicopter will be flying at altitudes between 800 and 2000 feet. To get a sense of how low 800 feet is, the Empire State building reaches 1,454 feet tall at the top of its spire.

The city did not disclose exactly where in Midtown the helicopter will be flying or what it will be filming.

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A mysterious December flyover of Midtown Manhattan caused a stir when New Yorkers noticed military aircraft hovering at low altitudes. At the time, the Air National Guard insisted the flyover was "routine training flight," but CBS news radio reporter Alex Silverman said a government source told him the military aircrafts were "involved in a Secret Service protective operation... coordinated with the FAA."

Photo by Ed Schipul via Flickr/Creative Commons