Helicopters over Emerald Bay

Private and charter helicopters over Emerald Bay

208 of 468 recorded passes over Emerald Bay were private and charter helicopters — 44% of the traffic here, 6 hours overhead in total.

Most often: November Alpha (N323TH), 8 recorded passesusually 11am–2pmtypically 500–950 ft

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

News helicopters over Emerald Bay

100 of 468 recorded passes over Emerald Bay were news helicopters — 21% of the traffic here, 3.5 hours overhead in total.

Most often: ABC NewsCopter (N828AP), 13 recorded passesusually 10am–1pmtypically 700–1,400 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.

Sheriff's helicopters over Emerald Bay

87 of 468 recorded passes over Emerald Bay were sheriff's helicopters — 19% of the traffic here, 4.2 hours overhead in total.

Most often: Orange County Sheriff's Department (N185SD), 17 recorded passesusually 1pm–4pmtypically 450–850 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 Emerald Bay

36 of 468 recorded passes over Emerald Bay were military helicopters — 8% of the traffic here, 0.8 hours overhead in total.

Most often: US ARMY (20-21168), 7 recorded passesusually 1pm–4pmtypically 400–700 ft

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

Is that a news helicopter over Emerald Bay?

News helicopters account for 21% of the 468 helicopter passes recorded over Emerald Bay. The one you see most is ABC NewsCopter (N828AP), 13 recorded passes. They are usually 10am–1pm here. They typically fly at 700–1,400 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.

Is that a sheriff's helicopter over Emerald Bay?

Sheriff's helicopters account for 19% of the 468 helicopter passes recorded over Emerald Bay. The one you see most is Orange County Sheriff's Department (N185SD), 17 recorded passes. They are usually 1pm–4pm here. They typically fly at 450–850 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.

How high do helicopters fly over Emerald Bay?

From the passes recorded here: private and charter helicopters at 500–950 ft; news helicopters at 700–1,400 ft; sheriff's helicopters at 450–850 ft; military helicopters at 400–700 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 Emerald Bay?

Most passes are brief — a minute or two straight through. The aircraft that stay longest here are private and charter helicopters: 6 hours overhead across 208 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.