Helicopters over Castaic

Private and charter helicopters over Castaic

116 of 291 recorded passes over Castaic were private and charter helicopters — 40% of the traffic here, 5.4 hours overhead in total.

Most often: LADWP (N704WP), 15 recorded passesusually 8am–11amtypically 1,900–3,300 ft

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

Fire and air-medical helicopters over Castaic

66 of 291 recorded passes over Castaic were fire and air-medical helicopters — 23% of the traffic here, 4.3 hours overhead in total.

Most often: LA City Fire (N303FD), 12 recorded passesusually 7pm–10pmtypically 1,800–2,950 ft

Fire and air-medical aircraft respond to fires, rescues and hospital transports — often brief, often low, and often straight in and out.

Sheriff's helicopters over Castaic

58 of 291 recorded passes over Castaic were sheriff's helicopters — 20% of the traffic here, 4.1 hours overhead in total.

Most often: LASD (N959LA), 14 recorded passesusually 4pm–7pmtypically 1,650–2,000 ft

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

News helicopters over Castaic

31 of 291 recorded passes over Castaic were news helicopters — 11% of the traffic here, 1.6 hours overhead in total.

Most often: NewsChopper 4 (N358TV), 9 recorded passesusually 4pm–7pmtypically 2,650–3,700 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.

Why is a fire helicopter over Castaic?

Fire and air-medical helicopters account for 23% of the 291 helicopter passes recorded over Castaic. The one you see most is LA City Fire (N303FD), 12 recorded passes. They are usually 7pm–10pm here. They typically fly at 1,800–2,950 ft above sea level. Fire and air-medical aircraft respond to fires, rescues and hospital transports — often brief, often low, and often straight in and out.

Is that a sheriff's helicopter over Castaic?

Sheriff's helicopters account for 20% of the 291 helicopter passes recorded over Castaic. The one you see most is LASD (N959LA), 14 recorded passes. They are usually 4pm–7pm here. They typically fly at 1,650–2,000 ft above sea level. 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 Castaic?

News helicopters account for 11% of the 291 helicopter passes recorded over Castaic. The one you see most is NewsChopper 4 (N358TV), 9 recorded passes. They are usually 4pm–7pm here. They typically fly at 2,650–3,700 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.

How high do helicopters fly over Castaic?

From the passes recorded here: private and charter helicopters at 1,900–3,300 ft; fire and air-medical helicopters at 1,800–2,950 ft; sheriff's helicopters at 1,650–2,000 ft; news helicopters at 2,650–3,700 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 Castaic?

Most passes are brief — a minute or two straight through. The aircraft that stay longest here are private and charter helicopters: 5.4 hours overhead across 116 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 AirWatch 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.