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It probably beats the mystery booms from last year

By adamg on Wed, 09/25/2013 - 10:28pm

Roslindale is all atwitter tonight about a small plane that is just circling the neighborhood over and over (I'm hearing it as I type this, sounds like it's somewhere in the vicinity of Metropolitan). Why is it up there? What does it want?

UPDATE: BPD says it's a "mapping plane," which they know because people have been calling them and somebody there checked with Logan. Makes sense, because you know how much Roslindale's streets have changed recently - although somebody less of a jerk might suggest things other than roads can be mapped. A source says this is the plane.

Neighborhoods: 
Roslindale


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Comments

By tblade on Wed, 09/25/2013 - 10:34pm.

What kind of mapping goes on at 10:30 at night?

By Bob on Wed, 09/25/2013 - 11:07pm.

Thermal mapping?

By adamg on Wed, 09/25/2013 - 11:18pm.

Although we're probably not a good candidate for the latter (despite the Cape Ann Quake of 1755).

By Sock_Puppet on Thu, 09/26/2013 - 5:46am.

They're trying to find my illegal chickens!

By tblade on Thu, 09/26/2013 - 9:57am.

Ok, so thermal mapping can be done at night.

I don't know anything about thermal mapping - are they looking for a grow house or something?

And my main question is why 10:30pm? What is the reason/advantage of mapping at 10:30pm (when many are trying to sleep) rather than 10:30am?

By c1josh on Thu, 09/26/2013 - 10:29am.

there must be some malfeasance out there and we'll just map every house, inside and out, to find it.

And remember, 'if your doing nothing wrong, you don't have to worry'.

By roadman on Thu, 09/26/2013 - 4:23pm.

Less air traffic at 10:30 pm than there is at 10:30 am. As such, it would be easier for the pilot to stay on the intended course.

By slowman4130 on Thu, 09/26/2013 - 12:03pm.

shoot it down and see who shows up

By Dan_Hardhat on Thu, 09/26/2013 - 2:11am.

Universal Hub covered similar flights in Quincy back in May.

Other media outlets followed up:
-WCVB reported on May 9th about these low flying planes. They couldn't get to the bottom of it. Sources say it's "Government surveillance and the mission is classified".
-WBZ too.
-Globe also had a write-up. They believe it's the FBI but also didn't get to the bottom of it.

Complaints can be made to Massport but if it really is the feds, it likely won't do any good. This is the link for noise complaints.
The flight ID is N204BE

All flights around Boston can be replayed from Massports site.
Unfortunately only the last 3 months can be replayed, so Quincy's problem flights in May aren't available.

Blackvault has an interesting foia request on the Quincy incident.

So...Expect more annoying flights.

By merlinmurph on Thu, 09/26/2013 - 7:57am.

It's a plane. In the air.
What's the big deal?
This is as bad as complaining about the font on a street sign....

By Marshall Keys on Thu, 09/26/2013 - 5:24am.

The plane is registered to Pink Skies, Inc at 38490 Crosscreek Avenue, Willoughby, Ohio. This is a private residence ( see Google Street View) occupied by Larry E and Jane Rohl.

He (Laurence E Rohl) is president of Air Services, an aircraft maintenance company in Cleveland which has a number of aircraft registered to it.

They are a division of Constant Aviation, a larger maintenance company.

Why are they flying over Roslindale? The mystery deepens.

By BostonUrbEx on Thu, 09/26/2013 - 6:52am.

Mystery solved?

By anon-a-mouse on Thu, 09/26/2013 - 7:13am.

when a topographic plan of a large area is needed, it can be done from a plane rather than on the ground field survey. Its a little less accurate, but much faster.

By adamg on Thu, 09/26/2013 - 7:18am.

Who needs a topographic plan of all of Roslindale?

By Sock_Puppet on Thu, 09/26/2013 - 7:57am.

It's for the new freeway

By BostonUrbEx on Thu, 09/26/2013 - 8:40am.

Google Maps -> Map View (not satellite) -> Terrain (can't be zoomed in too close)

Also, the buildings have '3D' sketches on Map View. This is, as I understand, primarily done with the same technology.

And it can all be done regardless of light conditions, I'm sure. So night is the most likely time to do this.

By anon on Thu, 09/26/2013 - 7:43am.

Could it be FEMA mapping elevations for flood plain determination? They do this mapping using a laser.

By c1josh on Thu, 09/26/2013 - 9:36am.

is an old 'sleight of hand' mainstay.

While your attention is focused on the sky, you will completely ignore what's going on at your feet.

Don't be alarmed if the city repaints your crosswalks this week.

By anon on Fri, 09/27/2013 - 1:12am.

There was a similar (same?) plane flying around over my neighborhood in West Roxbury a couple times at night this summer. Flew around in circles for about 15 minutes and then flew off.

By BrightGal on Fri, 09/27/2013 - 8:18pm.

Looks like its Brighton's turn tonight. Sounds like a chopper, looks like a plane from the lights.
Very X files.