Scotland's Railway Survey

Almost all day, a helicopter has been buzzing around the Kirkcaldy skies.
At first, I thought it was a police helicopter, but when it came closer to my house, my camera was able to pick out more details that I could google.


So, Google tells me it is Network Rail's latest tool to survey efficiently many miles of track in a short time.  It underwent trials last month and is now operational.

It has an instrument pod fitted below and in front of the aircraft.
Network Rail's website has more details here:
https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/video-network-rail-trials-helicopter-borne-multi-angle-camera-system-to-spot-failures-before-they-happen-and-give-incredibly-detailed-view-of-the-railway
Amongst everything, it says:
"The Multi-Angle Camera System – MACS – fits in a pod under the company’s Twin Squirrel helicopter, which can cover many miles of railway in a single shift, carrying a pilot and aerial surveyor."

I have no idea exactly what it was surveying as only a small section of its flight-path was above the railway line and it was going over and over the same route many times.