Helicopters over Hacienda Heights

Sheriff's helicopters over Hacienda Heights

669 of 895 recorded passes over Hacienda Heights were sheriff's helicopters — 75% of the traffic here, 30.1 hours overhead in total.

Most often: LASD (N962LA), 46 recorded passestypically 700–1,050 ft

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

Private and charter helicopters over Hacienda Heights

124 of 895 recorded passes over Hacienda Heights were private and charter helicopters — 14% of the traffic here, 4.1 hours overhead in total.

Most often: Southern California Edison (N817CE), 5 recorded passestypically 1,300–1,700 ft

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

News helicopters over Hacienda Heights

48 of 895 recorded passes over Hacienda Heights were news helicopters — 5% of the traffic here, 5.6 hours overhead in total.

Most often: SkyCAL / SkyFOX 11 (N39CL), 5 recorded passes

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.

Police helicopters over Hacienda Heights

18 of 895 recorded passes over Hacienda Heights were police helicopters — 2% of the traffic here, 0.7 hours overhead in total.

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 Hacienda Heights?

Sheriff's helicopters account for 75% of the 895 helicopter passes recorded over Hacienda Heights. The one you see most is LASD (N962LA), 46 recorded passes. They typically fly at 700–1,050 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 Hacienda Heights?

News helicopters account for 5% of the 895 helicopter passes recorded over Hacienda Heights. The one you see most is SkyCAL / SkyFOX 11 (N39CL), 5 recorded passes. 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 police helicopter circling over Hacienda Heights?

Police helicopters account for 2% of the 895 helicopter passes recorded over Hacienda Heights. Police aircraft typically fly tight, repeated orbits over one spot to support officers on the ground, and can hold for a long time.

How high do helicopters fly over Hacienda Heights?

From the passes recorded here: sheriff's helicopters at 700–1,050 ft; private and charter helicopters at 1,300–1,700 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 Hacienda Heights?

Most passes are brief — a minute or two straight through. The aircraft that stay longest here are sheriff's helicopters: 30.1 hours overhead across 669 recorded passes. Sheriff's aircraft fly patrol, search and rescue across the county, and orbit a scene the same way police aircraft do.

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.