Just a reminder to maintain that situational awareness folks. Yesterday I was out filming boats and checking out the lake level.

Plenty of power boats, ski boats, and jets skis on the water thus a variety of different engine profiles could be heard in the area. I was following two motorboats on their way back to the launch ramps and was going do a rotating pan of launch when I heard familiar but unexpected sound of a manned rotary aircraft that seem to come out of nowhere.

It sounded like it was coming in from the north over the water and very low. So, I stopped the shot I was about to take, climbed altitude and headed back over land to bring it in.  

After landing and swapping out batteries but the helicopter returned to the area this time much higher altitude, so I decided to pack it up for the day as I got some of the shots I wanted.

Anyways I got a nice shot of the chopper passing under.

Hello and good day BHProductions. Thank you for sharing this interesting video and your experience in taking the said video. Let us all be aware of the environment where we are flying at for us to have have a safe and happy flying always.

Dayum!!  That's some scary sh*t right there.

Way to keep your cool BH, where did that happen / is that lake?

That was a bit scary. Did not look like either a CHP or CalStar helicopter and it was way too low to be safe or legal around those boats and people IMHO.

DJI Stephen Posted at 6-2 13:46
Hello and good day BHProductions. Thank you for sharing this interesting video and your experience in taking the said video. Let us all be aware of the environment where we are flying at for us to have have a safe and happy flying always.

Thank you Stephen.

Bluehook Posted at 6-2 18:04
Dayum!!  That's some scary sh*t right there.

Way to keep your cool BH, where did that happen / is that lake?

IKR? IT was at Folsom Lake.

aesculus2 Posted at 6-2 20:13
That was a bit scary. Did not look like either a CHP or CalStar helicopter and it was way too low to be safe or legal around those boats and people IMHO.

Yeah I couldn't see any agency markings and Air Map didn't indicate any first responder activity. so /shrug

A bit close but what fantastic footage

That was a low flying helicopter. Way to be alert. Sweet footage BTW

Scary stuff.
Very scary!
Nice shot though.

And the audio track is hysterical!  Nice job, BH!

That helicopter was too low to be legal unless a coastguard / air ambulance right?  Or are pleasure flights allowed at low level? Great filming though by yourself...nice sound effects too

A J Posted at 6-2 22:47
A bit close but what fantastic footage

Thanks Andy!

Woe Posted at 6-2 23:26
That was a low flying helicopter. Way to be alert. Sweet footage BTW

Thanks Woe, yeah gotta keep that head on a swivel.

Montfrooij Posted at 6-2 23:55
Scary stuff.
Very scary!
Nice shot though.

Yeah I would have been in its flight path if I continued the shot.  Thanks Monty!

Bluehook Posted at 6-3 09:20
And the audio track is hysterical!  Nice job, BH!

Thanks Bluehook, Charlie dont surf!

BHProductions Posted at 6-2 21:33
IKR? IT was at Folsom Lake.

Nice video, and good flying. That lake and that ram sure did look familiar! I live in the area... nice to see the water so high.

ChrisJG Posted at 6-3 09:55
That helicopter was too low to be legal unless a coastguard / air ambulance right?  Or are pleasure flights allowed at low level? Great filming though by yourself...nice sound effects too

ChrisJG I'm not too sure on the specifics for rotary aircraft, but even if it wasn't a legit flight it was still there. I suppose its best to fly defensively.
Thank you!

CAAirborne Posted at 6-3 10:19
Nice video, and good flying. That lake and that ram sure did look familiar! I live in the area... nice to see the water so high.

Yeah I don't recall the last time I've seen the lake levels so high. Oak beach is completely under water. Vehicle traffic has been blocked off past the main boat launches, so you'll need a mountain bike or walk to get there.  

BHProductions Posted at 6-3 10:19
ChrisJG I'm not too sure on the specifics for rotary aircraft, but even if it wasn't a legit flight it was still there. I suppose its best to fly defensively.
Thank you!

Absolutely, am guessing lots of helicopter tours around the area, so going to be impossible to trace...it's a great reminder to all though.

BHProductions Posted at 6-3 10:09
Thanks Andy!

You're welcome

BHProductions Posted at 6-2 21:32
Thank you Stephen.

You are very much welcome BHProductions and thank you for your valued support.

BHProductions Posted at 6-3 10:13
Yeah I would have been in its flight path if I continued the shot.  Thanks Monty!

I hope I never get into that kind of situation....

BHProductions Posted at 6-3 10:10
Thanks Woe, yeah gotta keep that head on a swivel.

No doubt

Not each & every potential air corridor can be prescribed in geo hence "heard" is furthered as early warning, by the site location familiarity, over confident periods of observation prior filming.

Nice situational awareness! Thanks for sharing your experience and nice work.

The low copter flights can be right up on you before you can hear them sometimes.

DJI Panda Posted at 6-4 03:10
Nice situational awareness! Thanks for sharing your experience and nice work.

Thanks Panda!

ALABAMA Posted at 6-4 04:27
The low copter flights can be right up on you before you can hear them sometimes.

Yeah I noticed. It was pretty educational.

Awesome video! That helo would cause most folks to pee their pants.

FatherXmas Posted at 6-4 17:00
Awesome video! That helo would cause most folks to pee their pants.

Thanks St. Nick! For sure.

Cool video, and location!! Drone police will freak out soon....

ro_flyer Posted at 6-6 10:25
Cool video, and location!! Drone police will freak out soon....

Thanks Ro, I think I took appropriate actions, so let them freak out lol.

BHProductions Posted at 6-7 06:08
Thanks Ro, I think I took appropriate actions, so let them freak out lol.

You're welcome mate!!! Keep up the good work!