Helicopters over Dana Point

Private and charter helicopters over Dana Point

393 of 956 recorded passes over Dana Point were private and charter helicopters — 41% of the traffic here, 16.2 hours overhead in total.

Most often: Helinet (N76FL), 5 recorded passesusually 12pm–3pmtypically 600–1,150 ft

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

Sheriff's helicopters over Dana Point

213 of 956 recorded passes over Dana Point were sheriff's helicopters — 22% of the traffic here, 12.7 hours overhead in total.

Most often: Orange County Sheriff's Department (N185SD), 14 recorded passestypically 450–950 ft

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

Military helicopters over Dana Point

169 of 956 recorded passes over Dana Point were military helicopters — 18% of the traffic here, 9.9 hours overhead in total.

Most often: US ARMY (20-21168), 7 recorded passesusually 1pm–4pmtypically 350–700 ft

Military aircraft are almost always transiting between bases or on training flights; they rarely orbit a neighborhood.

News helicopters over Dana Point

125 of 956 recorded passes over Dana Point were news helicopters — 13% of the traffic here, 4.5 hours overhead in total.

Most often: ABC NewsCopter (N828AP), 26 recorded passesusually 3pm–6pmtypically 1,200–5,200 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.

Is that a sheriff's helicopter over Dana Point?

Sheriff's helicopters account for 22% of the 956 helicopter passes recorded over Dana Point. The one you see most is Orange County Sheriff's Department (N185SD), 14 recorded passes. They typically fly at 450–950 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 Dana Point?

News helicopters account for 13% of the 956 helicopter passes recorded over Dana Point. The one you see most is ABC NewsCopter (N828AP), 26 recorded passes. They are usually 3pm–6pm here. They typically fly at 1,200–5,200 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.

How high do helicopters fly over Dana Point?

From the passes recorded here: private and charter helicopters at 600–1,150 ft; sheriff's helicopters at 450–950 ft; military helicopters at 350–700 ft; news helicopters at 1,200–5,200 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 Dana Point?

Most passes are brief — a minute or two straight through. The aircraft that stay longest here are private and charter helicopters: 16.2 hours overhead across 393 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.