Helicopter
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Rotorcraft
Situational Awareness
Conflict Airborne Conflict
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Procedure
While filming scenic shots of Los Angeles over and around the Griffith Park Observatory; I observed a drone maneuvering in flight well above the observatory and had to maneuver below and close to the observatory to avoid the drone. I went into a hover at 600 AGL south of the Observatory and while climbing; had to abort the climb once again due to drone interference. I have had a number of drone encounters in the past six months and I believe it is only a matter of time until a midair occurs. Helicopters typically fly at 500 AGL and it seems that private drone operators are not respecting that airspace or the drone FARs.
Helicopter pilot reported sighting a drone over the Griffith Park Observatory while operating at 600 AGL. The pilot altered his climb to avoid the drone.