Helicopters over Lancaster
Live helicopter tracking for Lancaster, Los Angeles — updated every few seconds.
Checking the sky over Lancaster…
The sky over Lancaster
By hour of day
Who flies over Lancaster
- Private33%
- Fire / medical33%
- Sheriff31%
- Military3%
What it usually means
Private / civil: Private and civil helicopters are usually in transit, on a charter, or on a survey flight.
Fire / medical: Fire and air-medical helicopters mean a fire response, a rescue, or a hospital transport — often brief, and often at low altitude.
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.
Recent helicopter activity
- Jul 24, 3:24 PMLASD Air Rescue 5N951LB3,100 ft9 minS
- Jul 24, 11:29 AMPrivateN810CE5,350–5,550 ft1 minSE
- Jul 23, 9:31 PMSheriffN958LA2,950–3,000 ft1 minW
- Jul 23, 8:52 PMSheriffN958LA2,950–3,050 ft1 minS
- Jul 23, 8:45 PMSheriffN958LA2,825–2,950 ft1 minSE
- Jul 23, 8:37 PMSheriffN958LA2,925–3,000 ft1 minS
- Jul 23, 4:55 PMSheriffN958LA2,850–3,125 ft7 minS
- Jul 22, 11:39 AMPrivateN39RX2,325–2,925 ft1 minE
- Jul 22, 11:12 AMPrivateN39RX2,200 ft1 minN
- Jul 21, 1:36 AMPrivateN224AM3,900–4,400 ft1 minN
- Jul 19, 10:48 AMPrivateN33HX3,100–3,500 ft1 minSE
- Jul 17, 4:48 PMSheriffN951LA2,750–3,025 ft4 minSW
- Jul 17, 6:05 AMPrivateN160AM3,000 ft5 minE
- Jul 17, 5:25 AMPrivateN160AM3,000 ft7 minN
- Jul 16, 2:36 PMPrivateN89WL3,275–3,675 ft1 minNW
- Jul 15, 9:33 PMSheriffN951LA3,000 ft1 minE
- Jul 15, 8:56 PMSheriffN951LA2,900–2,925 ft1 minSW
- Jul 15, 4:48 PMSheriffN951LA2,975–3,100 ft1 minW
- Jul 14, 10:08 PMSheriffN951LA3,125–3,275 ft2 minW
- Jul 14, 9:47 PMSheriffN951LA2,650–3,075 ft3 minE
- Jul 14, 6:05 PMPrivateN160AM2,300–3,100 ft4 minE
- Jul 14, 5:21 PMPrivateN160AM2,900 ft7 minN
- Jul 13, 8:54 PMSheriffN953LA3,025–3,075 ft1 minS
- Jul 13, 5:08 PMSheriffN953LA2,800–2,850 ft1 minW
- Jul 13, 10:03 AMPrivateN36RX2,225 ft1 minN
- Jul 12, 9:42 PMSheriffN953LA3,125–3,225 ft1 minE
- Jul 12, 9:09 PMSheriffN953LA2,775–3,125 ft6 minE
- Jul 12, 5:13 PMSheriffN953LA2,625–2,925 ft7 minNE
- Jul 12, 4:53 PMSheriffN953LA2,875–2,925 ft1 minS
- Jul 12, 1:45 PMLA Co FDN190LA2,300 ft2 minSE
- Jul 12, 1:37 PMLA Co FDN190LA2,225 ft3 minN
- Jul 12, 11:57 AMPrivateN89WL3,000–3,175 ft1 minNW
- Jul 12, 10:01 AMPrivateN89WL3,175–3,475 ft1 minSE
- Jul 11, 7:53 PMOHXN600HX2,875–2,950 ft1 minNW
- Jul 11, 7:18 PMPrivateN89WL2,900–3,000 ft1 minNW
- Jul 11, 6:55 PMCAL FIREN716HT2,975–3,125 ft1 minNW
- Jul 11, 6:05 PMOHXN600HX2,850–2,950 ft1 minNW
- Jul 11, 5:28 PMCAL FIREN716HT2,825–3,000 ft1 minSE
- Jul 11, 5:21 PMPrivateN89WL3,200–3,300 ft1 minSE
- Jul 11, 4:04 PMOHXN600HX3,050–3,200 ft1 minSE
Nearby coverage
Helicopters over Lancaster: common questions
Why is there a helicopter over Lancaster?
Most helicopter activity over Lancaster 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 Lancaster?
Based on 78 tracked passes over Lancaster, the most common hour for helicopter activity is around 4pm local time. Activity rises during evening news hours and drops sharply 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.