Helicopters over Belmont Shore

Private and charter helicopters over Belmont Shore

1,410 of 2,150 recorded passes over Belmont Shore were private and charter helicopters — 66% of the traffic here, 40.8 hours overhead in total.

Most often: City Of Long Beach (N28LB), 55 recorded passestypically 500–700 ft

Private and charter aircraft are usually in transit, on a tour or a survey flight, and pass through without stopping.

News helicopters over Belmont Shore

297 of 2,150 recorded passes over Belmont Shore were news helicopters — 14% of the traffic here, 26.5 hours overhead in total.

Most often: ABC NewsCopter (N828AP), 19 recorded passestypically 700–1,200 ft

News helicopters hold a wider circle at a higher altitude and arrive after a story is already underway; several at once usually means something is being covered live.

Police helicopters over Belmont Shore

291 of 2,150 recorded passes over Belmont Shore were police helicopters — 14% of the traffic here, 20.3 hours overhead in total.

Police aircraft typically fly tight, repeated orbits over one spot to support officers on the ground, and can hold for a long time.

Sheriff's helicopters over Belmont Shore

84 of 2,150 recorded passes over Belmont Shore were sheriff's helicopters — 4% of the traffic here, 2.2 hours overhead in total.

Sheriff's aircraft fly patrol, search and rescue across the county, and orbit a scene the same way police aircraft do.

Is that a news helicopter over Belmont Shore?

News helicopters account for 14% of the 2,150 helicopter passes recorded over Belmont Shore. The one you see most is ABC NewsCopter (N828AP), 19 recorded passes. They typically fly at 700–1,200 ft above sea level. News helicopters hold a wider circle at a higher altitude and arrive after a story is already underway; several at once usually means something is being covered live.

Why is a police helicopter circling over Belmont Shore?

Police helicopters account for 14% of the 2,150 helicopter passes recorded over Belmont Shore. Police aircraft typically fly tight, repeated orbits over one spot to support officers on the ground, and can hold for a long time.

Is that a sheriff's helicopter over Belmont Shore?

Sheriff's helicopters account for 4% of the 2,150 helicopter passes recorded over Belmont Shore. Sheriff's aircraft fly patrol, search and rescue across the county, and orbit a scene the same way police aircraft do.

How high do helicopters fly over Belmont Shore?

From the passes recorded here: private and charter helicopters at 500–700 ft; news helicopters at 700–1,200 ft. These are the middle half of measured altitudes above sea level for each group, not a floor or a ceiling.

How long do helicopters stay over Belmont Shore?

Most passes are brief — a minute or two straight through. The aircraft that stay longest here are private and charter helicopters: 40.8 hours overhead across 1,410 recorded passes. Private and charter aircraft are usually in transit, on a tour or a survey flight, and pass through without stopping.

How can I tell if it's police or a news helicopter?

Police aircraft usually fly tight, repeated orbits over one spot and often stay for a long time. News helicopters tend to hold a wider circle at a higher altitude and arrive after an incident is already underway. This page labels each aircraft by its operator, so you don't have to guess.

Where does this data come from?

GTLA Live tracks public ADS-B and MLAT broadcasts that aircraft transmit about their own position, the same open data used by air-traffic enthusiasts worldwide. It is updated every few seconds.