Helicopters over Gardena

Private and charter helicopters over Gardena

512 of 863 recorded passes over Gardena were private and charter helicopters — 59% of the traffic here, 16.9 hours overhead in total.

Most often: Robinson Helicopter Co (N559DD), 23 recorded passestypically 500–850 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 Gardena

192 of 863 recorded passes over Gardena were sheriff's helicopters — 22% of the traffic here, 12.4 hours overhead in total.

Most often: LASD (N961LA), 12 recorded passestypically 500–850 ft

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

Police helicopters over Gardena

84 of 863 recorded passes over Gardena were police helicopters — 10% of the traffic here, 4 hours overhead in total.

Most often: LAPD (N213PF), 6 recorded passesusually 1am–4amtypically 450–650 ft

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

News helicopters over Gardena

57 of 863 recorded passes over Gardena were news helicopters — 7% of the traffic here, 3.8 hours overhead in total.

Most often: AIR7 (N71HD), 7 recorded passestypically 750–1,000 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 Gardena?

Sheriff's helicopters account for 22% of the 863 helicopter passes recorded over Gardena. The one you see most is LASD (N961LA), 12 recorded passes. They typically fly at 500–850 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.

Why is a police helicopter circling over Gardena?

Police helicopters account for 10% of the 863 helicopter passes recorded over Gardena. The one you see most is LAPD (N213PF), 6 recorded passes. They are usually 1am–4am here. They typically fly at 450–650 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 Gardena?

News helicopters account for 7% of the 863 helicopter passes recorded over Gardena. The one you see most is AIR7 (N71HD), 7 recorded passes. They typically fly at 750–1,000 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 Gardena?

From the passes recorded here: private and charter helicopters at 500–850 ft; sheriff's helicopters at 500–850 ft; police helicopters at 450–650 ft; news helicopters at 750–1,000 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 Gardena?

Most passes are brief — a minute or two straight through. The aircraft that stay longest here are private and charter helicopters: 16.9 hours overhead across 512 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 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.