Helicopters over Dana Point
Live helicopter tracking for Dana Point, Los Angeles — updated every few seconds.
Checking the sky over Dana Point…
The sky over Dana Point
By hour of day
Who flies over Dana Point
- Private43%
- Sheriff41%
- Military12%
- Fire / medical4%
What it usually means
Private / civil: Private and civil helicopters are usually in transit, on a charter, or on a survey flight.
Sheriff (LASD): Sheriff's helicopters typically orbit for a search, a pursuit, or to support deputies on the ground.
Military: Military aircraft are usually transiting between bases or on a training route rather than responding to anything local.
Fire / medical: Fire and air-medical helicopters mean a fire response, a rescue, or a hospital transport — often brief, and often at low altitude.
Recent helicopter activity
- Jul 24, 7:01 PMUS NAVY166339275–350 ft11 minW
- Jul 24, 6:52 PMUS NAVY166339325–375 ft2 minNW
- Jul 24, 6:17 PMPrivateN7096L450–500 ft1 minN
- Jul 24, 6:00 PMPrivateN108EH500–700 ft1 minE
- Jul 24, 4:04 PMPrivateN7096L425–700 ft1 minE
- Jul 24, 3:22 PMPrivateN108EH600–700 ft1 minNW
- Jul 24, 11:42 AMPrivateN542AG250–725 ft4 minN
- Jul 24, 10:38 AMOrange Co SheriffN181SD100–800 ft3 minN
- Jul 24, 10:03 AMUS Coast Guard6065275–400 ft5 minW
- Jul 24, 9:34 AMOrange Co SheriffN181SD900 ft2 minSW
- Jul 23, 6:51 PMUS ARMY18-209831,075–1,175 ft1 minNE
- Jul 23, 3:49 PMPrivateN683W875–900 ft3 minNW
- Jul 23, 1:59 PMMercy AirN908KB600–650 ft1 minE
- Jul 22, 6:29 PMPrivateN323TH500–600 ft1 minE
- Jul 22, 4:26 PMPrivateN76FL1,400 ft1 minNW
- Jul 22, 3:42 PMPrivateN853MH700–1,100 ft1 minNW
- Jul 22, 3:16 PMPrivateN816CE450–625 ft2 minN
- Jul 22, 2:37 PMPrivateN335PD500–700 ft1 minN
- Jul 22, 1:48 PMSheriffN183SD75–500 ft4 minNW
- Jul 22, 1:01 PMSheriffN183SD100 ft2 minNW
- Jul 22, 12:57 PMSheriffN183SD25–50 ft1 minS
- Jul 22, 12:49 PMOrange Co SheriffN181SD100 ft1 minS
- Jul 22, 12:43 PMOrange Co SheriffN181SD100 ft3 minW
- Jul 22, 12:42 PMSheriffN183SD75 ft3 minNW
- Jul 22, 12:31 PMSheriffN183SD75 ft6 minW
- Jul 22, 12:23 PMOrange Co SheriffN181SD100 ft15 minW
- Jul 22, 12:23 PMSheriffN183SD75 ft2 minW
- Jul 22, 12:15 PMSheriffN183SD—1 minS
- Jul 22, 11:03 AMSheriffN183SD225 ft2 minW
- Jul 22, 10:56 AMOrange Co SheriffN181SD600 ft3 minSE
- Jul 21, 6:52 PMOrange Co SheriffN184SD200–700 ft3 minN
- Jul 21, 2:16 PMMil / CG168095100–125 ft1 minW
- Jul 20, 11:16 PMPrivateN944AM2,475 ft1 minNW
- Jul 20, 3:25 PMOrange Co SheriffN184SD500–600 ft1 minNW
- Jul 20, 2:48 PMOrange Co SheriffN184SD400–500 ft1 minE
- Jul 19, 2:29 PMPrivateN335PD600–900 ft2 minNE
- Jul 16, 8:42 PMMil / CG168154250 ft1 minSE
- Jul 16, 8:28 PMMil / CG168154250 ft1 minNW
- Jul 16, 7:11 PMPrivateN562AH900–1,100 ft2 minSE
- Jul 16, 1:21 PMOrange Co SheriffN184SD500–700 ft2 minNW
Nearby coverage
Helicopters over Dana Point: common questions
Why is there a helicopter over Dana Point?
Most helicopter activity over Dana Point is one of four things: police aircraft supporting officers on the ground, news helicopters covering a developing story, fire or air-medical aircraft responding to an emergency, or private and military aircraft simply transiting the area. This page shows which one is overhead right now, identified by operator.
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.
What time do helicopters usually fly over Dana Point?
Based on 76 tracked passes over Dana Point, the most common hour for helicopter activity is around 3pm local time. Activity rises during evening news hours and drops sharply overnight.
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.