Helicopters over Monterey Park

Sheriff's helicopters over Monterey Park

478 of 997 recorded passes over Monterey Park were sheriff's helicopters — 48% of the traffic here, 18.8 hours overhead in total.

Most often: LASD (N960LA), 39 recorded passestypically 900–1,150 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 Monterey Park

191 of 997 recorded passes over Monterey Park were private and charter helicopters — 19% of the traffic here, 5.4 hours overhead in total.

Most often: Stirn Aviation (N26TW), 18 recorded passestypically 900–1,400 ft

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

News helicopters over Monterey Park

137 of 997 recorded passes over Monterey Park were news helicopters — 14% of the traffic here, 7.3 hours overhead in total.

Most often: Sky5 (N925TV), 7 recorded passestypically 1,250–1,700 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 Monterey Park

111 of 997 recorded passes over Monterey Park were police helicopters — 11% of the traffic here, 3.9 hours overhead in total.

Most often: Pasadena PD (N239PS), 3 recorded passestypically 1,050–1,450 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 Monterey Park?

Sheriff's helicopters account for 48% of the 997 helicopter passes recorded over Monterey Park. The one you see most is LASD (N960LA), 39 recorded passes. They typically fly at 900–1,150 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 Monterey Park?

News helicopters account for 14% of the 997 helicopter passes recorded over Monterey Park. The one you see most is Sky5 (N925TV), 7 recorded passes. They typically fly at 1,250–1,700 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 Monterey Park?

Police helicopters account for 11% of the 997 helicopter passes recorded over Monterey Park. The one you see most is Pasadena PD (N239PS), 3 recorded passes. They typically fly at 1,050–1,450 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 Monterey Park?

From the passes recorded here: sheriff's helicopters at 900–1,150 ft; private and charter helicopters at 900–1,400 ft; news helicopters at 1,250–1,700 ft; police helicopters at 1,050–1,450 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 Monterey Park?

Most passes are brief — a minute or two straight through. The aircraft that stay longest here are sheriff's helicopters: 18.8 hours overhead across 478 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 Live 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.