Why no Navigation lights? Commonwealth games Squirrel?
 

Why would a helicopter not show navigation lights?

One of the Commonwealth Games Camera helicopters covering the closing ceremony returned along the clyde with no strobes or port/starboard lights showing. It was 100% dark.

Is that normal for broadcast or did he just forget to turn them on?

I admit to have left the gear down after a 12 hour day on the last leg. Dumb? Yeah. Does it happen? Yeah.

I should image a strobe flashing away in front of a camera lens doesn't do the pictures any good. It also stops idiots with laser torches having a go at you.

Stealth mode.

Or maybe the aircraft was just due a clean.

If your genuinely interested why don't you phone the operator and ask them, they're only down the road and most of them don't bite! :ok:
Btw, only one aircraft was filming the closing ceremony and had anti col/nav lights on (at least when it lifted).

Special ops security?

Stealth
 

He/She probably turned them off to avoid Lasers, it's a last resort to avoid the brainless with their Laser beams.

Sometimes you get 'noise' on the picture when you use the strobe/s