For L.A. Residents Fed Up With Helicopter Noise, a Final Straw

Last Thursday, thousands of people sat in the stands of the Hollywood Bowl for a night of Beethoven. Nestled into the Hollywood Hills and with little sign of the surrounding urbanity of Los Angeles, it's a unique spot to take in a concert, especially in one of the biggest cities in the country. As violinist Renaud Capuçon stood for a solo, the audience was quickly reminded of the urban setting outside the Bowl when a helicopter flew overhead, drowning out the sound of music. The offending helicopter has not been identified.

It's an upsetting experience, though not a rare one in this city, where helicopters piloted by police and news media and emergency workers and private operators are common features in the city skyscape. The L.A. night sky is often lit up by a beaming beacon of light from one of these police helicopters, spotlighting a crime or pursuing a perpetrator. Paparazzi helicopters are also a common sight, especially in the more posh parts of town. For most, the sights and sounds of helicopters in the city are so common they fade slightly into the urban din. But when the choppers block out Beethoven, the natives get angry.