Helicopters over Mid-City
Live helicopter tracking for Mid-City, Los Angeles — updated every few seconds.
Checking the sky over Mid-City…
Recent incidents over Mid-City
- 🚁 News Swarm · Koreatown
2 news helicopters converging over Koreatown.
Jul 21, 6:48 AM PT
- 🚁 News Swarm · Mid-City
2 news helicopters converging over Mid-City.
Jun 10, 10:32 AM PT
The sky over Mid-City
By hour of day
Who flies over Mid-City
- Police85%
- News7%
- Private5%
- Sheriff2%
- Military0%
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.
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.
Recent helicopter activity
- Jul 25, 11:01 AMPoliceN229LA · AS50675–750 ft1 minE
- Jul 25, 10:42 AMLAPDN226LA · AS50400–925 ft4 minE
- Jul 25, 8:49 AMPoliceN230LA925–1,100 ft1 minW
- Jul 25, 7:20 AMPoliceN230LA1,025–1,325 ft2 minE
- Jul 25, 7:11 AMPoliceN230LA1,000–1,175 ft2 minE
- Jul 25, 1:27 AMPoliceN230LA675–800 ft1 minNW
- Jul 25, 12:35 AMPoliceN230LA800–975 ft1 minNE
- Jul 24, 11:38 PMPoliceN230LA750–800 ft1 minN
- Jul 24, 8:06 PMPoliceN230LA700–775 ft1 minS
- Jul 24, 7:15 PMPrivateN535DE1,075–1,275 ft1 minW
- Jul 24, 7:00 PMPoliceN230LA825–875 ft1 minNW
- Jul 24, 5:13 PMSheriffN950LA850–1,000 ft1 minW
- Jul 24, 5:13 PMPoliceN226LA700–850 ft1 minE
- Jul 24, 3:59 PMPoliceN226LA775–850 ft1 minSE
- Jul 24, 3:53 PMPoliceN224LA850–975 ft1 minNW
- Jul 24, 3:01 PMPoliceN229LA775–925 ft3 minS
- Jul 24, 12:16 PMPoliceN226LA725–800 ft1 minE
- Jul 24, 11:50 AMPoliceN226LA725–800 ft1 minW
- Jul 24, 11:38 AMPoliceN226LA775–850 ft1 minNW
- Jul 24, 8:40 AMPoliceN232LA475–675 ft8 minE
- Jul 24, 7:05 AMNewsChopper 4N358TV1,350–1,425 ft1 minE
- Jul 24, 6:45 AMAIR7N71HD1,325–1,600 ft9 minNW
- Jul 24, 6:30 AMAIR7N71HD1,375–1,425 ft1 minW
- Jul 24, 12:15 AMPoliceN223LA700–825 ft3 minE
- Jul 23, 10:09 PMPoliceN233LA675–875 ft2 minSE
- Jul 23, 9:37 PMPoliceN233LA550–800 ft5 minNE
- Jul 23, 9:14 PMPoliceN233LA925–950 ft1 minNE
- Jul 23, 9:04 PMPoliceN233LA450–575 ft1 minW
- Jul 23, 6:44 PMPoliceN226LA775–925 ft1 minNE
- Jul 23, 6:36 PMPoliceN226LA775–850 ft2 minS
- Jul 23, 6:21 PMPoliceN223LA800–925 ft1 minW
- Jul 23, 5:49 PMPoliceN233LA1,025–1,200 ft1 minNE
- Jul 23, 1:56 PMPoliceN223LA700–800 ft2 minE
- Jul 23, 1:51 PMPrivateN4043P950–975 ft1 minE
- Jul 23, 1:27 PMPoliceN232LA675–850 ft2 minS
- Jul 23, 12:55 PMSkyFOX 11 / SkyCALN50Q700–900 ft1 minS
- Jul 23, 12:05 PMPoliceN233LA950–1,250 ft1 minN
- Jul 23, 10:38 AMPoliceN232LA475–825 ft3 minE
- Jul 23, 10:34 AMUS ARMY17-20926800–1,275 ft3 minN
- Jul 23, 9:55 AMPoliceN232LA825 ft1 minSW
Nearby coverage
Helicopters over Mid-City: common questions
Why is there a helicopter over Mid-City?
Most helicopter activity over Mid-City 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 Mid-City?
Based on 415 tracked passes over Mid-City, the most common hour for helicopter activity is around 6pm 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.