Helicopters over Long Beach

Private and charter helicopters over Long Beach

1,968 of 2,429 recorded passes over Long Beach were private and charter helicopters — 81% of the traffic here, 125.2 hours overhead in total.

Most often: Maverick (N850MH), 47 recorded passestypically 600–700 ft

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

Police helicopters over Long Beach

296 of 2,429 recorded passes over Long Beach were police helicopters — 12% of the traffic here, 29.8 hours overhead in total.

Most often: Long Beach PD (N29LB), 11 recorded passestypically 600–700 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 Long Beach

81 of 2,429 recorded passes over Long Beach were news helicopters — 3% of the traffic here, 4.5 hours overhead in total.

Most often: ABC NewsCopter (N828AP), 7 recorded passesusually 5pm–8pmtypically 550–800 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 Long Beach

45 of 2,429 recorded passes over Long Beach were sheriff's helicopters — 2% of the traffic here, 2.3 hours overhead in total.

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

Why is a police helicopter circling over Long Beach?

Police helicopters account for 12% of the 2,429 helicopter passes recorded over Long Beach. The one you see most is Long Beach PD (N29LB), 11 recorded passes. They typically fly at 600–700 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 Long Beach?

News helicopters account for 3% of the 2,429 helicopter passes recorded over Long Beach. The one you see most is ABC NewsCopter (N828AP), 7 recorded passes. They are usually 5pm–8pm here. They typically fly at 550–800 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 Long Beach?

Sheriff's helicopters account for 2% of the 2,429 helicopter passes recorded over Long Beach. 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 Long Beach?

From the passes recorded here: private and charter helicopters at 600–700 ft; police helicopters at 600–700 ft; news helicopters at 550–800 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 Long Beach?

Most passes are brief — a minute or two straight through. The aircraft that stay longest here are private and charter helicopters: 125.2 hours overhead across 1,968 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.