Helicopters over Lake Los Angeles
Live helicopter tracking for Lake Los Angeles, Los Angeles — updated every few seconds.
Checking the sky over Lake Los Angeles…
The sky over Lake Los Angeles
Who flies over Lake Los Angeles
- Private42%
- Sheriff25%
- Military25%
- Fire / medical8%
What it usually means
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.
Military: Military aircraft are usually transiting between bases or on a training route rather than responding to anything local.
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
- Jul 23, 4:34 PMSheriffN958LA3,275–3,575 ft7 minW
- Jul 16, 1:20 PMPrivateN216AP6,100–6,700 ft1 minNW
- Jul 16, 11:08 AMMil / CG10-721678,000–8,025 ft1 minW
- Jul 15, 4:48 PMPrivateN9276F3,200 ft1 minSE
- Jul 9, 10:54 AMMil / CG21-145157,975 ft1 minW
- Jul 8, 11:49 PMPrivateN160AM4,500–4,600 ft1 minSE
- Jul 8, 5:39 PMSheriffN958LA3,450–3,650 ft1 minS
- Jul 8, 3:30 PMPrivateN966X4,150–4,275 ft1 minSE
- Jul 8, 10:36 AMMil / CG05-270453,500–3,900 ft4 minNE
- Jul 7, 10:16 PMLA Co FDN190LA2,650–3,000 ft2 minSW
- Jul 4, 11:31 PMPrivateN39RX4,725 ft1 minW
- Jul 2, 7:02 AMKern SheriffN913KC3,175–3,525 ft22 minE
Nearby coverage
Helicopters over Lake Los Angeles: common questions
Why is there a helicopter over Lake Los Angeles?
Most helicopter activity over Lake Los Angeles is one of four things: police aircraft supporting officers on the ground, news helicopters covering a developing story, fire or air-medical aircraft responding to an emergency, or private and military aircraft simply transiting the area. This page shows which one is overhead right now, identified by operator.
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.
What time do helicopters usually fly over Lake Los Angeles?
Helicopter activity over Lake Los Angeles is typically heaviest during daytime and evening news hours and lightest overnight.
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.