Helicopters over Lincoln Heights

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

Area briefing

Lincoln Heights, Los Angeles County

Checking the sky overhead…

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

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

Today over Lincoln Heights

Nothing overhead now. The last helicopter left 63 minutes ago, heading northwest.

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 Lincoln Heights

The sky over Lincoln Heights

1,310helicopter passes tracked over 66 days
138.9
passes per week
7.1
hours overhead per week
10 AM
busiest hour
Police
most common overhead

By hour of day

12a
3a
6a
9a
12p
3p
6p
9p
Busiest hour: 10a · this hour (2p) has averaged 41 passes historically

Who flies over Lincoln Heights

  • Police65%
  • News11%
  • Sheriff11%
  • Private10%
  • Fire / medical2%
  • Other1%

The regulars over Lincoln Heights

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

Who flies over Lincoln Heights, by the numbers

Police helicopters over Lincoln Heights

858 of 1,310 recorded passes over Lincoln Heights were police helicopters — 65% of the traffic here, 53 hours overhead in total.

Most often: LAPD (N213PF), 32 recorded passestypically 850–1,100 ft

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

News helicopters over Lincoln Heights

146 of 1,310 recorded passes over Lincoln Heights were news helicopters — 11% of the traffic here, 4.9 hours overhead in total.

Most often: SkyCAL / SkyFOX 11 (N39CL), 9 recorded passesusually 5am–8amtypically 1,200–1,600 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.

Sheriff's helicopters over Lincoln Heights

141 of 1,310 recorded passes over Lincoln Heights were sheriff's helicopters — 11% of the traffic here, 3.6 hours overhead in total.

Most often: LASD (N961LA), 6 recorded passestypically 900–1,100 ft

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

Private and charter helicopters over Lincoln Heights

126 of 1,310 recorded passes over Lincoln Heights were private and charter helicopters — 10% of the traffic here, 4.3 hours overhead in total.

Most often: LADWP (N704WP), 5 recorded passesusually 9am–12pmtypically 1,100–1,600 ft

Private and charter aircraft are usually in transit, on a tour or a survey flight, and pass through without stopping.

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.

News helicopter: News helicopters usually mean live coverage of a developing story — a pursuit, a fire, or a scene the station is broadcasting.

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

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

Recent helicopter activity

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Helicopters over Lincoln Heights common questions

Why is a police helicopter circling over Lincoln Heights?

Police helicopters account for 65% of the 1,310 helicopter passes recorded over Lincoln Heights. The one you see most is LAPD (N213PF), 32 recorded passes. They typically fly at 850–1,100 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 news helicopter over Lincoln Heights?

News helicopters account for 11% of the 1,310 helicopter passes recorded over Lincoln Heights. The one you see most is SkyCAL / SkyFOX 11 (N39CL), 9 recorded passes. They are usually 5am–8am here. They typically fly at 1,200–1,600 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.

Is that a sheriff's helicopter over Lincoln Heights?

Sheriff's helicopters account for 11% of the 1,310 helicopter passes recorded over Lincoln Heights. The one you see most is LASD (N961LA), 6 recorded passes. They typically fly at 900–1,100 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.

How high do helicopters fly over Lincoln Heights?

From the passes recorded here: police helicopters at 850–1,100 ft; news helicopters at 1,200–1,600 ft; sheriff's helicopters at 900–1,100 ft; private and charter helicopters at 1,100–1,600 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 Lincoln Heights?

Most passes are brief — a minute or two straight through. The aircraft that stay longest here are police helicopters: 53 hours overhead across 858 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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