Here’s why a helicopter was flying so low over Greater Victoria today

If you were among the many people wondering why a helicopter appeared to be skimming rooftops over Greater Victoria Tuesday, you were not alone.

The metallic-blue helicopter was spotted flying unusually low over several neighbourhoods on September 15th, prompting plenty of questions on social media.

FortisBC has now confirmed the flights are part of their routine aerial inspections being conducted along its natural gas lines.

The work began farther north on Vancouver Island, with crews making their way south. Inspections are taking place over Greater Victoria today and are expected to continue Wednesday.

FortisBC says the inspections are used to monitor the condition of its gas lines and identify potential concerns, including possible leaks.

Ascent Helicopters and LaSen Inc. have been contracted to complete the work using LiDAR, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging. The technology uses laser pulses to collect detailed information about infrastructure and the surrounding terrain.

The aircraft spotted Tuesday appears to be C-GWXH, a Bell 206L-4 LongRanger IV operated by Parksville-based Ascent Helicopters. External scanning equipment could be seen mounted beneath the helicopter.

To collect accurate readings, the helicopters have been cleared to fly approximately 90 to 152 metres, or roughly 300 to 500 feet, above the ground.

That low altitude may make the aircraft appear much closer to homes and rooftops than helicopters residents typically see travelling over the region.

The flights are expected to occur during daylight hours.