Helicopters over Elysian Valley

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

Area briefing

Elysian Valley, Los Angeles

Checking the sky overhead…

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

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

Last night over Elysian Valley

Nothing overhead now — quiet for the last 7 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 Elysian Valley

The sky over Elysian Valley

304helicopter passes tracked over 38 days
56.0
passes per week
1.9
hours overhead per week
10 AM
busiest hour
Police
most common overhead

By hour of day

12a
3a
6a
9a
12p
3p
6p
9p
Busiest hour: 10a · this hour (6a) has averaged 3 passes historically

Who flies over Elysian Valley

  • Police60%
  • Private22%
  • News11%
  • Fire / medical3%
  • Sheriff3%
  • Other1%

The regulars over Elysian Valley

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

Who flies over Elysian Valley, by the numbers

Police helicopters over Elysian Valley

183 of 304 recorded passes over Elysian Valley were police helicopters — 60% of the traffic here, 6.3 hours overhead in total.

Most often: LAPD (N213PF), 22 recorded passestypically 950–1,250 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 Elysian Valley

68 of 304 recorded passes over Elysian Valley were private and charter helicopters — 22% of the traffic here, 1.5 hours overhead in total.

Most often: LADWP (N704WP), 13 recorded passesusually 9am–12pmtypically 1,200–1,500 ft

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

News helicopters over Elysian Valley

32 of 304 recorded passes over Elysian Valley were news helicopters — 11% of the traffic here, 1.1 hours overhead in total.

Most often: SkyCAL / SkyFOX 11 (N39CL), 11 recorded passesusually 5am–8amtypically 1,100–1,450 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.

Fire and air-medical helicopters over Elysian Valley

10 of 304 recorded passes over Elysian Valley were fire and air-medical helicopters — 3% of the traffic here, 1.5 hours overhead in total.

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.

News helicopter: News helicopters usually mean live coverage of a developing story — a pursuit, a fire, or a scene the station is broadcasting.

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 Elysian Valley common questions

Why is a police helicopter circling over Elysian Valley?

Police helicopters account for 60% of the 304 helicopter passes recorded over Elysian Valley. The one you see most is LAPD (N213PF), 22 recorded passes. They typically fly at 950–1,250 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 news helicopter over Elysian Valley?

News helicopters account for 11% of the 304 helicopter passes recorded over Elysian Valley. The one you see most is SkyCAL / SkyFOX 11 (N39CL), 11 recorded passes. They are usually 5am–8am here. They typically fly at 1,100–1,450 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.

Why is a fire helicopter over Elysian Valley?

Fire and air-medical helicopters account for 3% of the 304 helicopter passes recorded over Elysian Valley. 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 Elysian Valley?

From the passes recorded here: police helicopters at 950–1,250 ft; private and charter helicopters at 1,200–1,500 ft; news helicopters at 1,100–1,450 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 Elysian Valley?

Most passes are brief — a minute or two straight through. The aircraft that stay longest here are police helicopters: 6.3 hours overhead across 183 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.