Increase in helicopters heading to northolt airfield

[CoolHands]

I’m in NW London and lately last few weeks noticed a lot more helicopters heading over me from central London straight to northolt (I guess, as they’re heading straight for it)

Is that likely it is it just cos I’m outside more?! I’ve never noticed them before. Various types not military (afaik).

Like 4 in the last 10 or 15 mins? Seems excessive. Who’s got the money? Last one:

[matrignano]

Silverstone GP? Wimbledon?

[CoolHands]

Hmm maybe Wimbledon. This one was larger

[IanH755]

Likely "celebs" into Wimbledon, same as when "celebs" use RAF Leuchars for their private jets when ever the British Open is on near St Andrews.

[hidetheelephants]

They'll be on Flightradar if you want to identify them.

[xx99xx]

Silverstone sees a huge demand for choppers.

I was once at a friends house near-ish to Silverstone on GP weekend and they were literally queuing up to get in. Even though they can hover, they were doing sky laps like some sort of holding pattern.

[twister]

Other than the Air Ambulance (which is based there overnight), it's rare to see a civilian helicopter landing at or taking off from Northolt, so chances are most/all of what you're seeing are simply helicopters following the H10 helilane in/out of London:

https://www.caa.co.uk/media/wppncpam/london-heli-r...

Just to the NW of Northolt is Denham airfield, where some civilian helicopters are based - the first of your photos looks like one of the ones I regularly see heading in and out of there.

[CoolHands]

An ok. I looked at flight radar (as best I could, not a familiar with it all) but it didn’t appear to have had any helicopter landings that afternoon at all. So what you say makes more sense.

[aeropilot]

CoolHands said:

I m in NW London and lately last few weeks noticed a lot more helicopters heading over me from central London straight to northolt (I guess, as they re heading straight for it)

As said, helo traffic going to British GP at Sillystone.
Not going to Northolt, these will have been helo's heading out from London heliport to Sillystone via the west London helo transit route that has RAF Northolt on that route.

[Familymad]

Lots come past our place in Denham too. It’s good to see how the well heeled travel to watch the race. I believe Silverstone becomes busier than Heathrow for daily aircraft movements on race day?

[aeropilot]

West London helo corridor from London heliport, follows River Thames to Kew, then goes north following the A406 to Hanger Lane, then follows the A40 out to the west past RAF Northolt, once past RAF Northolt the corridor ends and opens out to general airspace routes to rest of UK.