PLT OF AN SMA HELI HOVERED OVER A HWY DURING A PHOTO- SHOOT CAUSING GND OBSERVERS TO THINK THAT HE WAS POSSIBLY OPERATING IN A CARELESS OR RECKLESS MANNER!

Narrative

THIS WAS DAY 2 OF A PHOTO MISSION FOR A PROFESSIONAL COMPANY OUT OF NEW JERSEY. THE FIRST DAY WAS THE GND SHOOT WHICH POLICE WERE PROVIDED TO STOP TFC SO THE ROAD WOULD BE CLEAN. THE PERMITTING AGENCY WAS NOTIFIED AS TO THE AERIAL WORK SCHEDULED FOR DAY 2. THEY SAID WE DID NOT NEED PERMITS SINCE WE WERE NOT LNDG NOR HAD A NEED TO STOP TFC. THE OFFICERS ON DAY 1 DID NOT THINK POLICE WOULD BE NEEDED FOR DAY 2. THE PURPOSE OF DAY 2 WAS TO SHOOT STRAIGHT DOWN ON THE HWY FROM VARIOUS ALTS (20 FT TO 600 FT). THE FIELD OF VIEW WAS RELATIVELY SMALL. WE WOULD HOVER OFF THE HWY AND MOVE INTO POS WHEN TFC CLRED; SHOOT AND THEN MOVE OUT. A FEW TIMES TFC STOPPED SO I STAYED A FEW SECONDS LONGER. ONCE; WHILE AT A HIGHER ALT (5O-100 FT); A CAR THAT WAS STOPPED TO WATCH PASSED UNDERNEATH MY ACFT. THIS OCCURRED MORE OFTEN AS MY ALT INCREASED. I AM AWARE THAT AS A HELI I'M EXEMPT FROM ALT RESTRS UNDER 91.119 CONCERNING 500 FT FROM ANY VEHICLE AS LONG AS I DO NOT CAUSE INJURY OR DAMAGE TO ANY PERSONS OR PROPERTY; I FEEL SOMEONE MAY THINK THAT THIS WOULD BE CARELESS AND RECKLESS. AFTER ABOUT 30 MINS; 2 POLICE OFFICERS CAME BY; STAYED FOR ABOUT 15 MINS AND THEN LEFT. I COULD NOT LAND TO INFORM THEM OF OUR PERMITS AND WHAT WE WERE DOING SINCE I HAD NO PERMISSION TO LAND. THEY MAY HAVE JUST BEEN INTERESTED OR SOMEONE MAY HAVE COMPLAINED. I AM SURE I DID NOT CAUSE ANY INJURY OR DAMAGE TO ANY PROPERTY. I AM ALSO SURE THAT IF I HAD AN ENG FAILURE; I WOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO LAND ON THE ROAD SINCE BOTH SIDES OF THE ROAD WERE OPEN FLAT FIELDS. I THINK THAT THE POLICE SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE FOR THE SECOND DAY AND NOT JUST ASSUME THAT SINCE WE WERE NOT LNDG; NOR HAD A DEFINITE NEED TO STOP TFC. WHEN A HELI IS OPERATING LOW; PEOPLE ARE GOING TO LOOK AND NOT WATCH THEIR DRIVING. THIS COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WHICH COULD BE LINKED TO THE HELI.