Helicopters over Covina

Private and charter helicopters over Covina

233 of 707 recorded passes over Covina were private and charter helicopters — 33% of the traffic here, 6.2 hours overhead in total.

Most often: Southern California Edison (N810CE), 11 recorded passestypically 1,300–1,900 ft

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

Police helicopters over Covina

215 of 707 recorded passes over Covina were police helicopters — 30% of the traffic here, 15.8 hours overhead in total.

Most often: Pasadena PD (N239PS), 35 recorded passestypically 1,300–1,700 ft

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 Covina

133 of 707 recorded passes over Covina were sheriff's helicopters — 19% of the traffic here, 4.4 hours overhead in total.

Most often: LASD (N961LA), 12 recorded passestypically 1,000–1,450 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 Covina

48 of 707 recorded passes over Covina were news helicopters — 7% of the traffic here, 2 hours overhead in total.

Most often: AIR7 (N71HD), 4 recorded passesusually 3pm–6pmtypically 1,150–1,350 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 police helicopter circling over Covina?

Police helicopters account for 30% of the 707 helicopter passes recorded over Covina. The one you see most is Pasadena PD (N239PS), 35 recorded passes. They typically fly at 1,300–1,700 ft above sea level. 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 Covina?

Sheriff's helicopters account for 19% of the 707 helicopter passes recorded over Covina. The one you see most is LASD (N961LA), 12 recorded passes. They typically fly at 1,000–1,450 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 Covina?

News helicopters account for 7% of the 707 helicopter passes recorded over Covina. The one you see most is AIR7 (N71HD), 4 recorded passes. They are usually 3pm–6pm here. They typically fly at 1,150–1,350 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 Covina?

From the passes recorded here: private and charter helicopters at 1,300–1,900 ft; police helicopters at 1,300–1,700 ft; sheriff's helicopters at 1,000–1,450 ft; news helicopters at 1,150–1,350 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 Covina?

Most passes are brief — a minute or two straight through. The aircraft that stay longest here are police helicopters: 15.8 hours overhead across 215 recorded passes. Police aircraft typically fly tight, repeated orbits over one spot to support officers on the ground, and can hold for a long time.

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.