Helicopters over Pasadena
Live helicopter tracking for Pasadena, Los Angeles — updated every few seconds.
Checking the sky over Pasadena…
Recent incidents over Pasadena
- 🦁 Mountain Lion — Pasadena · Del Mar Blvd & Euclid Ave, Pasadena
Resolved — Animal Control tranquilized the mountain lion and it's been safely removed. Pasadena PD has cleared the scene and the shelter-in-place is lifted. The neighborhood is safe.
Jun 5, 5:26 PM PT
The sky over Pasadena
By hour of day
Who flies over Pasadena
- Police67%
- Sheriff12%
- Private8%
- News7%
- Fire / medical3%
- Other3%
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.
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.
News helicopter: News helicopters usually mean live coverage of a developing story — a pursuit, a fire, or a scene the station is broadcasting.
Recent helicopter activity
- Jul 24, 10:59 PMPoliceN239PS1,900–2,400 ft8 minNW
- Jul 24, 10:40 PMPoliceN239PS1,700–2,000 ft7 minNW
- Jul 24, 10:04 PMPoliceN239PS1,900–2,000 ft3 minNE
- Jul 24, 7:16 PMPoliceN239PS1,900–2,000 ft1 minN
- Jul 24, 5:43 PMPoliceN239PS1,700–2,100 ft17 minE
- Jul 24, 2:46 PMPoliceN239PS1,700–1,900 ft1 minNE
- Jul 24, 11:28 AMLASD Air Rescue 5N951LB2,925 ft2 minN
- Jul 24, 11:26 AMPoliceN8NF1,600–1,900 ft3 minW
- Jul 24, 11:05 AMLASD Air Rescue 5N951LB1,950 ft3 minSW
- Jul 24, 10:34 AMPoliceN8NF1,700–1,900 ft2 minW
- Jul 24, 9:25 AMPoliceN8NF1,900–2,100 ft2 minW
- Jul 24, 9:02 AMLASD Air Rescue 5N951LB4,000–5,050 ft1 minN
- Jul 24, 8:23 AMPoliceN239PS1,700–2,200 ft1 minN
- Jul 24, 12:47 AMPoliceN224KB1,600–2,200 ft10 minNW
- Jul 24, 12:29 AMPoliceN224KB1,900–2,000 ft2 minSW
- Jul 23, 10:38 PMPoliceN224KB2,300–2,400 ft2 minNW
- Jul 23, 10:21 PMPoliceN224KB1,900–2,400 ft11 minN
- Jul 23, 9:42 PMPoliceN224KB2,000–2,100 ft2 minSE
- Jul 23, 7:11 PMPrivateN527163,600–4,000 ft1 minSE
- Jul 23, 7:00 PMPoliceN224KB1,700–2,000 ft3 minN
- Jul 23, 6:00 PMPoliceN224KB2,000–2,100 ft2 minSW
- Jul 23, 3:12 PMPoliceN224KB2,000–2,100 ft1 minN
- Jul 23, 3:04 PMPoliceN224KB1,900–2,100 ft4 minS
- Jul 23, 2:51 PMPoliceN224KB1,800–2,100 ft2 minE
- Jul 23, 2:42 PMPoliceN224KB2,000 ft2 minE
- Jul 23, 11:15 AMPoliceN224KB1,500–2,300 ft43 minNE
- Jul 23, 10:38 AMPoliceN224KB1,900–2,000 ft2 minE
- Jul 23, 10:17 AMPoliceN224KB1,700–2,100 ft13 minSW
- Jul 23, 10:10 AMPoliceN224KB2,100–2,200 ft1 minE
- Jul 22, 11:32 PMPoliceN224KB2,100–2,300 ft1 minN
- Jul 22, 11:17 PMPoliceN224KB1,800–2,000 ft3 minNE
- Jul 22, 10:41 PMPoliceN224KB2,000–2,100 ft2 minE
- Jul 22, 7:58 PMPoliceN224KB2,000 ft1 minN
- Jul 22, 6:16 PMPoliceN224KB1,600–2,000 ft18 minN
- Jul 22, 5:58 PMPoliceN224KB1,700–2,000 ft10 minNE
- Jul 22, 3:10 PMPoliceN224KB2,000–2,100 ft1 minNW
- Jul 22, 2:29 PMPoliceN224KB2,000–2,100 ft1 minNE
- Jul 22, 1:32 PMUS ARMY10-721651,300–1,375 ft1 minE
- Jul 22, 1:03 PMMil / CG1681301,300–1,750 ft3 minSW
- Jul 22, 11:29 AMPoliceN8NF1,100–1,900 ft3 minN
Nearby coverage
Helicopters over Pasadena: common questions
Why is there a helicopter over Pasadena?
Most helicopter activity over Pasadena 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 Pasadena?
Based on 391 tracked passes over Pasadena, the most common hour for helicopter activity is around 5pm 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.