Helicopters over Irwindale

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

Area briefing

Irwindale, Los Angeles County

Checking the sky overhead…

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

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

Today over Irwindale

Nothing overhead now. The last helicopter left 58 minutes ago, heading southeast.

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 Irwindale

The sky over Irwindale

541helicopter passes tracked over 66 days
57.4
passes per week
3.2
hours overhead per week
8 PM
busiest hour
Police
most common overhead

By hour of day

12a
3a
6a
9a
12p
3p
6p
9p
Busiest hour: 8p · this hour (1p) has averaged 17 passes historically

Who flies over Irwindale

  • Police35%
  • Private31%
  • Sheriff16%
  • Fire / medical7%
  • News6%
  • Other4%

The regulars over Irwindale

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

Who flies over Irwindale, by the numbers

Police helicopters over Irwindale

191 of 541 recorded passes over Irwindale were police helicopters — 35% of the traffic here, 10.8 hours overhead in total.

Most often: Pasadena PD (N239PS), 53 recorded passesusually 8pm–11pmtypically 1,300–1,700 ft

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

Private and charter helicopters over Irwindale

169 of 541 recorded passes over Irwindale were private and charter helicopters — 31% of the traffic here, 7.8 hours overhead in total.

Most often: Coastal Helicopters (N623PD), 13 recorded passestypically 900–1,550 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 Irwindale

89 of 541 recorded passes over Irwindale were sheriff's helicopters — 16% of the traffic here, 4.1 hours overhead in total.

Most often: LASD (N956LA), 10 recorded passestypically 1,000–1,200 ft

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

Fire and air-medical helicopters over Irwindale

39 of 541 recorded passes over Irwindale were fire and air-medical helicopters — 7% of the traffic here, 5.3 hours overhead in total.

Most often: LA Co FD (N110LA), 5 recorded passesusually 5am–8amtypically 500–1,300 ft

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

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.

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

Sheriff (LASD): Sheriff's helicopters typically orbit for a search, a pursuit, or to support deputies on the ground.

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 Irwindale common questions

Why is a police helicopter circling over Irwindale?

Police helicopters account for 35% of the 541 helicopter passes recorded over Irwindale. The one you see most is Pasadena PD (N239PS), 53 recorded passes. They are usually 8pm–11pm here. They typically fly at 1,300–1,700 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 sheriff's helicopter over Irwindale?

Sheriff's helicopters account for 16% of the 541 helicopter passes recorded over Irwindale. The one you see most is LASD (N956LA), 10 recorded passes. They typically fly at 1,000–1,200 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 fire helicopter over Irwindale?

Fire and air-medical helicopters account for 7% of the 541 helicopter passes recorded over Irwindale. The one you see most is LA Co FD (N110LA), 5 recorded passes. They are usually 5am–8am here. They typically fly at 500–1,300 ft above sea level. 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 Irwindale?

From the passes recorded here: police helicopters at 1,300–1,700 ft; private and charter helicopters at 900–1,550 ft; sheriff's helicopters at 1,000–1,200 ft; fire and air-medical helicopters at 500–1,300 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 Irwindale?

Most passes are brief — a minute or two straight through. The aircraft that stay longest here are police helicopters: 10.8 hours overhead across 191 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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