NNSA to conduct aerial radiation assessment survey over Boston in support of marathon
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) will conduct low-altitude helicopter flights over the route of the Boston Marathon, from Hopkinton to Boston, between April 12 and April 15 to measure naturally occurring background radiation.
The public may see a twin-engine Bell 412 helicopter, which is operated by the Remote Sensing Laboratory Aerial Measuring System from Joint Base Andrews and is equipped with radiation sensing technology.
The helicopter will fly in a grid pattern over the area at 150 feet (or higher) above the ground surface at a speed of approximately 80 miles per hour. Flyovers will occur only during daylight hours and are estimated to take about three days to complete.
The measurement of naturally occurring radiation to establish baseline levels is a normal part of security and emergency preparedness for major public events.
NNSA routinely notifies the public of upcoming flights so that citizens who see the low-flying aircraft are not alarmed.
DOE/NNSA has conducted these flights in support of the Boston Marathon since 2014.
Click here for video footage of past flights by NNSA’s Aerial Measuring System.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
