Why would local officials need to be "informed?" There are essentally no FAA restrictions on helicopter flights over populated areas. I have flown for "hours" over cities -- hovered even -- as both a military and a civilian helicopter pilot as part of various missions. In 20 years of being a helicopter pilot, I have never - not once - informed any local official of anything. And as most helicopter flights are under Visual Flight Rules, I almost never informed even the FAA.

Again, I am amused at the idea that "things are going from bad to worse" and that our servicemen and their equipment are objects of fear. More like ignorance - on your part and on that of your "local officials." Like I said, see if you can find the guys who were flying and have a beer with them. I think it will ease your mind. To quote Tolkien, "Little do they know of our long labour for the safekeeping of their borders, and yet I grudge it not."