Helicopters over Hollywood Hills

Live helicopter tracking for Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles County — updated every few seconds.

Area briefing

Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles County

Checking the sky overhead…

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

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

Today over Hollywood Hills

Nothing overhead now. The last helicopter left 18 minutes ago, heading east.

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 Hollywood Hills

The sky over Hollywood Hills

2,049helicopter passes tracked over 66 days
217.3
passes per week
7.6
hours overhead per week
8 PM
busiest hour
Private
most common overhead

By hour of day

12a
3a
6a
9a
12p
3p
6p
9p
Busiest hour: 8p · this hour (2p) has averaged 91 passes historically

Who flies over Hollywood Hills

  • Private41%
  • Police37%
  • News17%
  • Fire / medical4%
  • Military1%
  • Other1%

The regulars over Hollywood Hills

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

Who flies over Hollywood Hills, by the numbers

Private and charter helicopters over Hollywood Hills

838 of 2,049 recorded passes over Hollywood Hills were private and charter helicopters — 41% of the traffic here, 25.4 hours overhead in total.

typically 1,400–1,700 ft

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

Police helicopters over Hollywood Hills

754 of 2,049 recorded passes over Hollywood Hills were police helicopters — 37% of the traffic here, 28.7 hours overhead in total.

Most often: Glendale PD (N818PD), 20 recorded passestypically 1,400–1,700 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 Hollywood Hills

340 of 2,049 recorded passes over Hollywood Hills were news helicopters — 17% of the traffic here, 10.5 hours overhead in total.

Most often: SkyCAL / SkyFOX 11 (N39CL), 13 recorded passestypically 1,400–1,700 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 Hollywood Hills

75 of 2,049 recorded passes over Hollywood Hills were fire and air-medical helicopters — 4% of the traffic here, 5.4 hours overhead in total.

Most often: LA City Fire (N303FD), 6 recorded passesusually 9am–12pm

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

Private / civil: Private and civil helicopters are usually in transit, on a charter, or on a survey flight.

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.

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 Hollywood Hills common questions

Why is a police helicopter circling over Hollywood Hills?

Police helicopters account for 37% of the 2,049 helicopter passes recorded over Hollywood Hills. The one you see most is Glendale PD (N818PD), 20 recorded passes. They typically fly at 1,400–1,700 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 Hollywood Hills?

News helicopters account for 17% of the 2,049 helicopter passes recorded over Hollywood Hills. The one you see most is SkyCAL / SkyFOX 11 (N39CL), 13 recorded passes. They typically fly at 1,400–1,700 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 Hollywood Hills?

Fire and air-medical helicopters account for 4% of the 2,049 helicopter passes recorded over Hollywood Hills. The one you see most is LA City Fire (N303FD), 6 recorded passes. They are usually 9am–12pm here. 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 Hollywood Hills?

From the passes recorded here: private and charter helicopters at 1,400–1,700 ft; police helicopters at 1,400–1,700 ft; news helicopters at 1,400–1,700 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 Hollywood Hills?

Most passes are brief — a minute or two straight through. The aircraft that stay longest here are police helicopters: 28.7 hours overhead across 754 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.

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