[rusnak]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

It depends.

Military helo? Probably not...there is no MOA or restricted area for them to be lights off, even on goggles. There is also so much ambient light that I cannot imagine being goggled up.

Police is more likely and I guarantee the were talking to a bunch of folks to stay out of trouble...especially Oakland approach and tower. They were no doubt being "painted" like you read about.

I can say I was never more uncomfortable, day or night, flying in the Bay Area "Bowl": The lights, terrain, refraction off the water, the amount of traffic is insane.

My favorite traffic call of all time, I was flying into NAS Alameda, was from Oakland Approach or Center: "Island Ruler 25, traffic at your 12 o'clock, your altitude, one mile..."

Huh?

That's got to make a bit of poo come out.