Interesting Reading  - a study done on the effects of Helicopter noise on the endangered Birds of Dassen Island. One of the best-studied groups of birds for the impact of aircraft is penguins. Some species of penguins are prone to panic responses to helicopters (e.g. Wilson et al. 1991, Cooper et al. 1994, Giese & Riddle 1999), occasionally with catastrophic results (Rounsevell & Binns 1991). Most catastrophic events happen among dense groups of penguins, where even one bird panicking can set off a chain reaction throughout the group.  Source: http://adu.org.za/pdf/Nansikombi_Juliet_2004_MSc_CB_thesis.pdf Image source: Wikipedia - Michael John Nicoll - Nicoll, M. J. (1908) Three Voyages of a Naturalist : Being an Account of Many Little-Known Islands in Three Oceans Visited by the 'Valhalla' R. Y, S., London : Whitherby & Co.

Original Article: http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/noisy-helicopters-leave-residents-outraged-264583 Excerpt from an article published on 2006, this is a long ongoing issue in Cape Town. Outraged residents and the Table Mountain National Park have had enough of noisy helicopters which they said were flying "irresponsibly" low over protected areas and Cape Town suburbs. Fiona Kalk, park spokesperson, said: "Under the Protected Areas Act, all aircraft must be 1 500ft above the highest point of the park. In the park that is McClear's Beacon on top of Table Mountain." Although helicopter companies insist they do keep to this regulated height, Kalk said, helicopters in fact do not abide by this regulation. continue reading... 

A video from a Claremont resident On Friday, 24 th  February 2017, between 08H55 and 09H55, helicopters were flying low over the houses in Claremont. Footage of one of the helicopters shows how low this helicopter was flying against a backdrop of trees and the mountain. Despite numerous complaints to the Waterfront, City of Cape Town (Noise Control) and Operators themselves, helicopters continue to operate with no consideration of his residence below.  

Source:  http://www.iolproperty.co.za/roller/news/entry/cape_town_to_regulate_light This is an article from 2010 which talks about noise and regulations. Cape Town to regulate light aircraft over suburbs THE City of Cape Town is working with the South African Civil Aviation Authority to firm up regulations for helicopters and light aircraft that fly too low above residential suburbs and natural or World Heritage sites. Without any legislation at its disposal, the city council has up to now been powerless to control the height, routes or types of helicopters and light aircraft flying above the city. Councillor Owen Kinahan said in a motion to the city's economic development portfolio committee that helicopter "flips" over the southern suburbs generated "tremendously disruptive and invasive noise" that disturbed the peaceful environment of those areas. Gerrit Mostert, of city health, said helicopter companies had been relying on a noise abatement ch...