Helicopters over Mount Baldy

Live helicopter tracking for Mount Baldy, San Bernardino County — updated every few seconds.

Area briefing

Mount Baldy, San Bernardino County

Checking the sky overhead…

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

Map of Mount Baldy, San Bernardino County
Scanning
Live map — checking for helicopters over Mount Baldy… The dashed ring is the 8 km radius this page counts as “over Mount Baldy”; inner rings mark one-third and two-thirds of that distance.

Today over Mount Baldy

Nothing overhead now — quiet for the last 2 hours.

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

The sky over Mount Baldy

151helicopter passes tracked over 43 days
24.6
passes per week
3.4
hours overhead per week
10 AM
busiest hour
Private
most common overhead

By hour of day

12a
3a
6a
9a
12p
3p
6p
9p
Busiest hour: 10a · this hour (1p) has averaged 8 passes historically

Who flies over Mount Baldy

  • Private48%
  • Sheriff21%
  • Military12%
  • Police8%
  • Fire / medical7%
  • Other5%

The regulars over Mount Baldy

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

Who flies over Mount Baldy, by the numbers

Private and charter helicopters over Mount Baldy

72 of 151 recorded passes over Mount Baldy were private and charter helicopters — 48% of the traffic here, 10.6 hours overhead in total.

Most often: Coastal Helicopters (N623PD), 16 recorded passesusually 10am–1pmtypically 4,150–6,100 ft

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

Sheriff's helicopters over Mount Baldy

31 of 151 recorded passes over Mount Baldy were sheriff's helicopters — 21% of the traffic here, 4.4 hours overhead in total.

Most often: LASD (N308SB), 11 recorded passesusually 3pm–6pmtypically 3,850–5,200 ft

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

Military helicopters over Mount Baldy

18 of 151 recorded passes over Mount Baldy were military helicopters — 12% of the traffic here, 1.2 hours overhead in total.

Most often: US ARMY (17-20926), 7 recorded passesusually 4pm–7pmtypically 4,250–7,600 ft

Military aircraft are almost always transiting between bases or on training flights; they rarely orbit a neighborhood.

Police helicopters over Mount Baldy

12 of 151 recorded passes over Mount Baldy were police helicopters — 8% of the traffic here, 2.7 hours overhead in total.

Most often: Fontana PD (N641EG), 5 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.

What it usually means

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.

Military: Military aircraft are usually transiting between bases or on a training route rather than responding to anything local.

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.

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Helicopters over Mount Baldy common questions

Is that a sheriff's helicopter over Mount Baldy?

Sheriff's helicopters account for 21% of the 151 helicopter passes recorded over Mount Baldy. The one you see most is LASD (N308SB), 11 recorded passes. They are usually 3pm–6pm here. They typically fly at 3,850–5,200 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.

Why is a police helicopter circling over Mount Baldy?

Police helicopters account for 8% of the 151 helicopter passes recorded over Mount Baldy. The one you see most is Fontana PD (N641EG), 5 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 high do helicopters fly over Mount Baldy?

From the passes recorded here: private and charter helicopters at 4,150–6,100 ft; sheriff's helicopters at 3,850–5,200 ft; military helicopters at 4,250–7,600 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 Mount Baldy?

Most passes are brief — a minute or two straight through. The aircraft that stay longest here are private and charter helicopters: 10.6 hours overhead across 72 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.

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