Helicopters over Mount Wilson
Live helicopter tracking for Mount Wilson, Los Angeles — updated every few seconds.
Mount Wilson, Los Angeles
Checking the sky overhead…
GTLA AirWatch · Live area briefing · positions from ADS-B, rechecked every 20 seconds
Last night over Mount Wilson
Nothing overhead now — quiet for the last 10 hours.
- 8:13pm — US ARMY (17-20929) passed through in 3 minutes, high.came from Juniper Hills (8:10pm)went on to La Cañada (8:17pm)
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.
The sky over Mount Wilson
By hour of day
Who flies over Mount Wilson
- Sheriff40%
- Private25%
- Fire / medical18%
- Police11%
- News2%
- Other3%
The regulars over Mount Wilson
The aircraft recorded here most often — the ones you’ll see again.
- LASD Air Rescue 5N951LB64 recorded visits· last here Sun 7:09 PM
- Pasadena PDN239PS17 recorded visits· usually 4–7pm· last here Tue 2:47 PM
- Us Bank NaN411CE16 recorded visits· usually 2–5pm· last here Wed 10:42 AM
- LA Co FDN120LA13 recorded visits· last here Wed 11:58 AM
- Pasadena PDN8NF12 recorded visits· usually 2–5pm· last here Wed 5:34 PM
Who flies over Mount Wilson, by the numbers
Sheriff's helicopters over Mount Wilson
143 of 356 recorded passes over Mount Wilson were sheriff's helicopters — 40% of the traffic here, 8.6 hours overhead in total.
Most often: LASD Air Rescue 5 (N951LB), 61 recorded passestypically 3,550–5,200 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 Mount Wilson
90 of 356 recorded passes over Mount Wilson were private and charter helicopters — 25% of the traffic here, 6.2 hours overhead in total.
Most often: Us Bank Na (N411CE), 16 recorded passestypically 2,200–4,600 ft
Private and charter aircraft are usually in transit, on a tour or a survey flight, and pass through without stopping.
Fire and air-medical helicopters over Mount Wilson
65 of 356 recorded passes over Mount Wilson were fire and air-medical helicopters — 18% of the traffic here, 5 hours overhead in total.
Most often: LA Co FD (N120LA), 13 recorded passestypically 3,200–4,500 ft
Fire and air-medical aircraft respond to fires, rescues and hospital transports — often brief, often low, and often straight in and out.
Police helicopters over Mount Wilson
40 of 356 recorded passes over Mount Wilson were police helicopters — 11% of the traffic here, 2.2 hours overhead in total.
Most often: Pasadena PD (N239PS), 17 recorded passesusually 3pm–6pmtypically 1,800–2,250 ft
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
Sheriff (LASD): Sheriff's helicopters typically orbit for a search, a pursuit, or to support deputies on the ground.
Private / civil: Private and civil helicopters are usually in transit, on a charter, or on a survey flight.
Fire / medical: Fire and air-medical helicopters mean a fire response, a rescue, or a hospital transport — often brief, and often at low altitude.
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.
Recent helicopter activity
- Sep 2, 8:13 PMUS ARMY17-20929 · H607,325–8,475 ft3 minSW
- Sep 2, 5:32 PMPasadena PDN8NF · B2061,900–2,100 ft2 minW
- Sep 2, 2:27 PMSouthern California EdisonN810CE · AS503,925–6,050 ft4 minSE
- Sep 2, 11:56 AMLA Co FDN120LA · B4122,800–3,400 ft2 minE
- Sep 2, 10:41 AMUs Bank NaN411CE · B4291,175–1,450 ft2 minN
- Sep 2, 6:56 AMUs Bank NaN411CE · B4292,325–2,350 ft1 minNW
- Sep 2, 6:55 AMSouthern California EdisonN810CE · AS503,175–5,900 ft4 minNW
- Sep 1, 5:29 PMGlendale PDN818PD · AS505,775 ft15 minNW
- Sep 1, 5:22 PMUs Bank NaN411CE · B4291,475–1,500 ft1 minNW
- Sep 1, 5:05 PMUs Bank NaN411CE · B4291,275–1,475 ft1 minN
- Sep 1, 4:36 PMUs Bank NaN411CE · B4291,275–1,550 ft3 minN
- Sep 1, 4:18 PMUs Bank NaN411CE · B4291,250–1,425 ft3 minN
- Sep 1, 3:55 PMUs Bank NaN411CE · B4291,250–1,525 ft8 minNW
- Sep 1, 3:38 PMLA Co FDN120LA · B4124,300–5,000 ft3 minE
- Sep 1, 3:28 PMUs Bank NaN411CE · B4291,250–1,475 ft3 minN
- Sep 1, 3:09 PMUs Bank NaN411CE · B4291,275–1,675 ft8 minN
- Sep 1, 2:46 PMPasadena PDN239PS · B062,300–2,500 ft1 minSE
- Sep 1, 2:33 PMUs Bank NaN411CE · B4291,450–1,525 ft1 minN
- Sep 1, 2:17 PMUs Bank NaN411CE · B4291,475–1,525 ft1 minNW
- Aug 31, 7:08 PMPasadena PDN239PS · B062,200–2,500 ft3 minW
- Aug 31, 11:01 AMUs Bank NaN411CE · B4291,075–1,625 ft3 minN
- Aug 31, 10:15 AMPrivate / civil43,875–44,025 ft8 minE
- Aug 31, 9:35 AMPrivate / civil42,725–42,850 ft8 minE
- Aug 31, 7:05 AMLA Co FDN120LA · B4123,200–3,500 ft2 minNW
- Aug 30, 12:53 PMPrivate / civilN60ZX · EC351,375–1,600 ft2 minW
- Aug 30, 10:19 AMLA Co FDN120LA · B4124,300–4,900 ft3 minNE
- Aug 29, 5:08 PMMercy AirN908KB · B4293,750–6,000 ft3 minS
- Aug 29, 4:35 PMPrivate / civilN108PP · H5002,200 ft1 minW
- Aug 29, 4:15 PMPrivate / civil40,875–41,700 ft6 minE
- Aug 29, 3:50 PMPrivate / civil41,400–41,650 ft3 minE
- Aug 29, 3:42 PMMercy AirN908KB · B4295,350–6,600 ft4 minN
- Aug 29, 10:49 AMLA Co FDN120LA · B4124,000–4,600 ft3 minE
- Aug 29, 8:01 AMSouthern California EdisonN817CE · AS502,350–2,975 ft2 minNW
- Aug 29, 7:01 AMLA Co FDN120LA · B4123,200–4,900 ft5 minW
- Aug 28, 11:46 PMPrivate / civilN108PP · H5001,800 ft1 minW
- Aug 28, 9:21 PMLA City FireN302FD · A1395,800 ft21 minW
- Aug 28, 5:58 PMPasadena PDN239PS · B061,900–2,100 ft3 minNW
- Aug 28, 4:53 PMPrivate / civil40,800–41,075 ft3 minNE
- Aug 28, 2:39 PMWayne MoggN644WB · R442,625–4,850 ft5 minSW
- Aug 28, 2:19 PMWayne MoggN644WB · R443,000–5,450 ft11 minW
Nearby coverage
Helicopters over Mount Wilson common questions
Is that a sheriff's helicopter over Mount Wilson?
Sheriff's helicopters account for 40% of the 356 helicopter passes recorded over Mount Wilson. The one you see most is LASD Air Rescue 5 (N951LB), 61 recorded passes. They typically fly at 3,550–5,200 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 fire helicopter over Mount Wilson?
Fire and air-medical helicopters account for 18% of the 356 helicopter passes recorded over Mount Wilson. The one you see most is LA Co FD (N120LA), 13 recorded passes. They typically fly at 3,200–4,500 ft above sea level. Fire and air-medical aircraft respond to fires, rescues and hospital transports — often brief, often low, and often straight in and out.
Why is a police helicopter circling over Mount Wilson?
Police helicopters account for 11% of the 356 helicopter passes recorded over Mount Wilson. The one you see most is Pasadena PD (N239PS), 17 recorded passes. They are usually 3pm–6pm here. They typically fly at 1,800–2,250 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 Mount Wilson?
From the passes recorded here: sheriff's helicopters at 3,550–5,200 ft; private and charter helicopters at 2,200–4,600 ft; fire and air-medical helicopters at 3,200–4,500 ft; police helicopters at 1,800–2,250 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 Wilson?
Most passes are brief — a minute or two straight through. The aircraft that stay longest here are sheriff's helicopters: 8.6 hours overhead across 143 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.