Anyone in Fair Lakes notice all the helicopters that have been flying around lately? I have no idea what the reason for this is. I just heard one about 15 minutes ago, and have seen them circling the area near the Silver Diner and the apartment complexes near by. Any idea why they've been flying around? I thought there might have been a base close by or something (I'm not originally from here), but was told there wasn't. Any idea why this could be happening?

The fire academy is right down the street from that Silver Dinner off of West Ox. The County's helicopter does a lot of exercises over there. You'll see/hear it flying all the time.

Here's what's going on. There were helicopters out in PW County also yesterday.

Jets, choppers over region this week for NORAD exercise
Tuesday - 10/25/2011, 5:32am ET
http://www.wtop.com/?nid=41&sid=2605976


WASHINGTON (AP) - NORAD is planning an exercise this week in the Washington region to enhance its skills and test a warning system.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command will conduct exercise Falcon Virgo 12-01 Wednesday morning.

The exercise is designed to hone NORAD's intercept and identification operations and test the region's visual warning system. Civil Air Patrol aircraft, Air Force F-16s and a U.S. Coast Guard HH-65 Dolphin helicopter will participate in the exercise. These flights will take place between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m.

A civilian Beechcraft King Air aircraft will also fly patterns about 1,000 feet above ground level between 12:30 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. to help calibrate systems and equipment.

The Fairfax County Police Helicopter Unit is based adjacent to the Fire Academy on West Ox Road directly across from the Fair Oaks Church. They have two helicopters which fly daily regular patrols as well as any medivac situations.