Helicopters over Huntington Beach

Private and charter helicopters over Huntington Beach

838 of 1,659 recorded passes over Huntington Beach were private and charter helicopters — 51% of the traffic here, 41.9 hours overhead in total.

Most often: Goodyear Blimp (N2A), 8 recorded passestypically 500–900 ft

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

Police helicopters over Huntington Beach

413 of 1,659 recorded passes over Huntington Beach were police helicopters — 25% of the traffic here, 35.2 hours overhead in total.

Most often: Huntington Beach PD (N682HB), 36 recorded passestypically 500–900 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 Huntington Beach

173 of 1,659 recorded passes over Huntington Beach were news helicopters — 10% of the traffic here, 8.5 hours overhead in total.

Most often: ABC NewsCopter (N828AP), 19 recorded passesusually 10am–1pmtypically 600–1,000 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.

Military helicopters over Huntington Beach

129 of 1,659 recorded passes over Huntington Beach were military helicopters — 8% of the traffic here, 4.4 hours overhead in total.

Most often: US ARMY (20-21168), 6 recorded passesusually 12pm–3pmtypically 450–550 ft

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

Why is a police helicopter circling over Huntington Beach?

Police helicopters account for 25% of the 1,659 helicopter passes recorded over Huntington Beach. The one you see most is Huntington Beach PD (N682HB), 36 recorded passes. They typically fly at 500–900 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 Huntington Beach?

News helicopters account for 10% of the 1,659 helicopter passes recorded over Huntington Beach. The one you see most is ABC NewsCopter (N828AP), 19 recorded passes. They are usually 10am–1pm here. They typically fly at 600–1,000 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 Huntington Beach?

From the passes recorded here: private and charter helicopters at 500–900 ft; police helicopters at 500–900 ft; news helicopters at 600–1,000 ft; military helicopters at 450–550 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 Huntington Beach?

Most passes are brief — a minute or two straight through. The aircraft that stay longest here are private and charter helicopters: 41.9 hours overhead across 838 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.