Helicopters over Laguna Beach

Private and charter helicopters over Laguna Beach

497 of 991 recorded passes over Laguna Beach were private and charter helicopters — 50% of the traffic here, 18.9 hours overhead in total.

Most often: November Alpha (N323TH), 9 recorded passesusually 1pm–4pmtypically 550–1,000 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 Laguna Beach

184 of 991 recorded passes over Laguna Beach were sheriff's helicopters — 19% of the traffic here, 11.2 hours overhead in total.

Most often: Orange County Sheriff's Department (N185SD), 13 recorded passesusually 1pm–4pmtypically 400–900 ft

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

News helicopters over Laguna Beach

123 of 991 recorded passes over Laguna Beach were news helicopters — 12% of the traffic here, 6.8 hours overhead in total.

Most often: ABC NewsCopter (N828AP), 14 recorded passesusually 10am–1pmtypically 800–2,000 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 Laguna Beach

117 of 991 recorded passes over Laguna Beach were military helicopters — 12% of the traffic here, 3.2 hours overhead in total.

Most often: US ARMY (20-21168), 8 recorded passestypically 450–700 ft

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

Is that a sheriff's helicopter over Laguna Beach?

Sheriff's helicopters account for 19% of the 991 helicopter passes recorded over Laguna Beach. The one you see most is Orange County Sheriff's Department (N185SD), 13 recorded passes. They are usually 1pm–4pm here. They typically fly at 400–900 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 Laguna Beach?

News helicopters account for 12% of the 991 helicopter passes recorded over Laguna Beach. The one you see most is ABC NewsCopter (N828AP), 14 recorded passes. They are usually 10am–1pm here. They typically fly at 800–2,000 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 Laguna Beach?

From the passes recorded here: private and charter helicopters at 550–1,000 ft; sheriff's helicopters at 400–900 ft; news helicopters at 800–2,000 ft; military helicopters at 450–700 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 Laguna Beach?

Most passes are brief — a minute or two straight through. The aircraft that stay longest here are private and charter helicopters: 18.9 hours overhead across 497 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.