Helicopters over Lawndale

Private and charter helicopters over Lawndale

127 of 228 recorded passes over Lawndale were private and charter helicopters — 56% of the traffic here, 4.4 hours overhead in total.

typically 600–2,300 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 Lawndale

36 of 228 recorded passes over Lawndale were sheriff's helicopters — 16% of the traffic here, 2.1 hours overhead in total.

Most often: LASD (N958LA), 6 recorded passesusually 12am–3amtypically 400–850 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 Lawndale

25 of 228 recorded passes over Lawndale were news helicopters — 11% of the traffic here, 1.3 hours overhead in total.

Most often: NewsChopper 4 (N358TV), 8 recorded passesusually 9am–12pmtypically 700–1,000 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.

Police helicopters over Lawndale

15 of 228 recorded passes over Lawndale were police helicopters — 7% of the traffic here, 0.7 hours overhead in total.

Most often: LAPD (N232LA), 5 recorded passestypically 500–600 ft

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 Lawndale?

Sheriff's helicopters account for 16% of the 228 helicopter passes recorded over Lawndale. The one you see most is LASD (N958LA), 6 recorded passes. They are usually 12am–3am here. They typically fly at 400–850 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 Lawndale?

News helicopters account for 11% of the 228 helicopter passes recorded over Lawndale. The one you see most is NewsChopper 4 (N358TV), 8 recorded passes. They are usually 9am–12pm here. They typically fly at 700–1,000 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.

Why is a police helicopter circling over Lawndale?

Police helicopters account for 7% of the 228 helicopter passes recorded over Lawndale. The one you see most is LAPD (N232LA), 5 recorded passes. They typically fly at 500–600 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.

How high do helicopters fly over Lawndale?

From the passes recorded here: private and charter helicopters at 600–2,300 ft; sheriff's helicopters at 400–850 ft; news helicopters at 700–1,000 ft; police helicopters at 500–600 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 Lawndale?

Most passes are brief — a minute or two straight through. The aircraft that stay longest here are private and charter helicopters: 4.4 hours overhead across 127 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 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.