Helicopters over Duarte

Live helicopter tracking for Duarte, Los Angeles — updated every few seconds.

Area briefing

Duarte, Los Angeles

Checking the sky overhead…

GTLA AirWatch · Live area briefing · positions from ADS-B, rechecked every 20 seconds

Map of Duarte, Los Angeles
Scanning
Live map — checking for helicopters over Duarte… The dashed ring is the 3.5 km radius this page counts as “over Duarte”; inner rings mark one-third and two-thirds of that distance.

Last night over Duarte

Nothing overhead now — quiet for the last 6 hours.

Verbs like “held over” and “circled” describe the recorded flight path, not what was happening on the ground. Nothing here states a crime, a fire or a casualty.

Who's hovering here?View the full live map

Recent incidents over Duarte

The sky over Duarte

335helicopter passes tracked over 26 days
90.2
passes per week
4.2
hours overhead per week
6 PM
busiest hour
Police
most common overhead

By hour of day

12a
3a
6a
9a
12p
3p
6p
9p
Busiest hour: 6p · this hour (5a) has averaged 2 passes historically

Who flies over Duarte

  • Police41%
  • Private30%
  • Sheriff11%
  • Fire / medical10%
  • News5%
  • Other4%

The regulars over Duarte

The aircraft recorded here most often — the ones you’ll see again.

Who flies over Duarte, by the numbers

Police helicopters over Duarte

136 of 335 recorded passes over Duarte were police helicopters — 41% of the traffic here, 5.4 hours overhead in total.

Most often: Pasadena PD (N239PS), 68 recorded passestypically 1,500–2,000 ft

Police aircraft typically fly tight, repeated orbits over one spot to support officers on the ground, and can hold for a long time.

Private and charter helicopters over Duarte

100 of 335 recorded passes over Duarte were private and charter helicopters — 30% of the traffic here, 5.2 hours overhead in total.

typically 1,200–1,850 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 Duarte

37 of 335 recorded passes over Duarte were sheriff's helicopters — 11% of the traffic here, 1.9 hours overhead in total.

Most often: LASD (N961LA), 8 recorded passestypically 1,000–1,400 ft

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

Fire and air-medical helicopters over Duarte

32 of 335 recorded passes over Duarte were fire and air-medical helicopters — 10% of the traffic here, 1.7 hours overhead in total.

Most often: LA Co FD (N110LA), 11 recorded passesusually 6am–9amtypically 1,300–2,300 ft

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

What it usually means

Police (LAPD / municipal): Police helicopters typically orbit for a search, a pursuit, or to support officers on the ground. A tight circle overhead usually means the activity is directly below.

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.

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

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Helicopters over Duarte common questions

Why is a police helicopter circling over Duarte?

Police helicopters account for 41% of the 335 helicopter passes recorded over Duarte. The one you see most is Pasadena PD (N239PS), 68 recorded passes. They typically fly at 1,500–2,000 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 Duarte?

Sheriff's helicopters account for 11% of the 335 helicopter passes recorded over Duarte. The one you see most is LASD (N961LA), 8 recorded passes. They typically fly at 1,000–1,400 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.

Why is a fire helicopter over Duarte?

Fire and air-medical helicopters account for 10% of the 335 helicopter passes recorded over Duarte. The one you see most is LA Co FD (N110LA), 11 recorded passes. They are usually 6am–9am here. They typically fly at 1,300–2,300 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.

How high do helicopters fly over Duarte?

From the passes recorded here: police helicopters at 1,500–2,000 ft; private and charter helicopters at 1,200–1,850 ft; sheriff's helicopters at 1,000–1,400 ft; fire and air-medical helicopters at 1,300–2,300 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 Duarte?

Most passes are brief — a minute or two straight through. The aircraft that stay longest here are police helicopters: 5.4 hours overhead across 136 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.