Helicopters spotted flying under the Eiffel Tower
Paris police explain frequent sightings of helicopters flying at low altitudes above Paris
In a recent statement, the Paris Police Prefecture explained: “As part of the preparation for the upcoming 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the National Gendarmerie will conduct several low-altitude helicopter flights over Paris from 27 May to 31 May 2024, between 8:30am and 7:00pm, at a rate of four to five flights per day, depending on weather conditions.”
The purpose of the flights is to construct reference mapping for operational preparation for the 2024 Paris Olympics. The HELINUC, a system developed by the French Atomic Energy Commission, has been installed on the helicopter’s skids to conduct airborne gamma mapping and the mapping of radio-nuclear activity.
According to the Prefecture, similar operations have also been carried out in neighboring French cities involved in the Games.
The aircraft is operated from the Vélizy-Villacoublay Air Base, home of the National Gendarmerie Air Force Command situated southwest of Paris.
Following the publishing of two decrees in April last year, French police were given the right to use drones for aerial surveillance purposes.
Chloe Fox
Chloe Fox is an Senior Editorial Assistant for Voyageur Group, joining in 2024. She writes for AirMed&Rescue and ITIJ, covering a range of topics including international travel and health insurance, medical assistance provision, and air medical transportation. Chloe holds a BA (Hons) in English and an MA in English Literature from the University of Bristol.