Helicopters over Montebello

Sheriff's helicopters over Montebello

816 of 1,044 recorded passes over Montebello were sheriff's helicopters — 78% of the traffic here, 26.1 hours overhead in total.

Most often: LASD (N958LA), 51 recorded passestypically 750–1,000 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 Montebello

99 of 1,044 recorded passes over Montebello were news helicopters — 9% of the traffic here, 3.7 hours overhead in total.

Most often: SkyCAL / SkyFOX 11 (N39CL), 7 recorded passesusually 12pm–3pmtypically 1,000–1,400 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.

Private and charter helicopters over Montebello

72 of 1,044 recorded passes over Montebello were private and charter helicopters — 7% of the traffic here, 1.9 hours overhead in total.

Most often: Southern California Edison (N810CE), 4 recorded passesusually 2pm–5pmtypically 1,000–1,300 ft

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

Police helicopters over Montebello

28 of 1,044 recorded passes over Montebello were police helicopters — 3% of the traffic here, 0.7 hours overhead in total.

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 Montebello?

Sheriff's helicopters account for 78% of the 1,044 helicopter passes recorded over Montebello. The one you see most is LASD (N958LA), 51 recorded passes. They typically fly at 750–1,000 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 Montebello?

News helicopters account for 9% of the 1,044 helicopter passes recorded over Montebello. The one you see most is SkyCAL / SkyFOX 11 (N39CL), 7 recorded passes. They are usually 12pm–3pm here. They typically fly at 1,000–1,400 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 Montebello?

Police helicopters account for 3% of the 1,044 helicopter passes recorded over Montebello. 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 Montebello?

From the passes recorded here: sheriff's helicopters at 750–1,000 ft; news helicopters at 1,000–1,400 ft; private and charter helicopters at 1,000–1,300 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 Montebello?

Most passes are brief — a minute or two straight through. The aircraft that stay longest here are sheriff's helicopters: 26.1 hours overhead across 816 recorded passes. Sheriff's aircraft fly patrol, search and rescue across the county, and orbit a scene the same way police aircraft do.

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.