Santa Maria and Orcutt residents may hear helicopters overhead as SoCalGas sends aircraft to map emissions in the area this week.
Officials say the helicopters will be at work from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. beginning Monday, Feb. 7. Work will continue through the week as weather permits.
Bell JetRanger helicopters will be flying back and forth in what the gas company calls a "lawnmower pattern." The helicopters will fly at about 500 feet.
The work is part of the statewide SB 1371 emissions reduction program, a safety effort to detect and map possible methane emissions in the gas company's infrastructure, Tim Mahoney of SoCalGas said.
Helicopters have already been at work in Arroyo Grande.
