Helicopters over Castaic

Private and charter helicopters over Castaic

322 of 667 recorded passes over Castaic were private and charter helicopters — 48% of the traffic here, 17.6 hours overhead in total.

Most often: Wilson Construction (N531WC), 61 recorded passesusually 8am–11amtypically 1,850–2,550 ft

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

Fire helicopters over Castaic

141 of 667 recorded passes over Castaic were fire helicopters — 21% of the traffic here, 11.2 hours overhead in total.

Most often: LA City Fire (N307FD), 22 recorded passesusually 9am–12pmtypically 1,750–2,400 ft

Fire department aircraft respond to fires and rescues — often brief, often low, and often straight in and out.

Sheriff's helicopters over Castaic

132 of 667 recorded passes over Castaic were sheriff's helicopters — 20% of the traffic here, 10.3 hours overhead in total.

Most often: LASD (N958LA), 10 recorded passesusually 3pm–6pmtypically 1,650–1,950 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

40 of 667 recorded passes over Castaic were news helicopters — 6% of the traffic here, 2.2 hours overhead in total.

Most often: SkyFOX 11 / SkyCAL (N50Q), 4 recorded passes

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 helicopters account for 21% of the 667 helicopter passes recorded over Castaic. The one you see most is LA City Fire (N307FD), 22 recorded passes. They are usually 9am–12pm here. They typically fly at 1,750–2,400 ft above sea level. Fire department aircraft respond to fires and rescues — 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 667 helicopter passes recorded over Castaic. The one you see most is LASD (N958LA), 10 recorded passes. They are usually 3pm–6pm here. They typically fly at 1,650–1,950 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 6% of the 667 helicopter passes recorded over Castaic. The one you see most is SkyFOX 11 / SkyCAL (N50Q), 4 recorded passes. 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 1,850–2,550 ft; fire helicopters at 1,750–2,400 ft; sheriff's helicopters at 1,650–1,950 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: 17.6 hours overhead across 322 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.