Helicopters over Phelan

Live helicopter tracking for Phelan, Los Angeles — updated every few seconds.

Area briefing

Phelan, Los Angeles

Checking the sky overhead…

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

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

Last night over Phelan

Nothing overhead now — quiet for the last 4 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 Phelan

146helicopter passes tracked over 45 days
22.7
passes per week
1.1
hours overhead per week
11 AM
busiest hour
Private
most common overhead

By hour of day

12a
3a
6a
9a
12p
3p
6p
9p
Busiest hour: 11a · this hour (6a) has averaged 4 passes historically

Who flies over Phelan

  • Private60%
  • Sheriff23%
  • Military11%
  • Fire / medical5%
  • News1%
  • Other1%

The regulars over Phelan

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

Who flies over Phelan, by the numbers

Private and charter helicopters over Phelan

87 of 146 recorded passes over Phelan were private and charter helicopters — 60% of the traffic here, 3.9 hours overhead in total.

typically 4,500–5,600 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 Phelan

33 of 146 recorded passes over Phelan were sheriff's helicopters — 23% of the traffic here, 2.3 hours overhead in total.

Most often: LASD (N832SB), 8 recorded passesusually 10am–1pmtypically 4,200–5,050 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 Phelan

16 of 146 recorded passes over Phelan were military helicopters — 11% of the traffic here, 0.6 hours overhead in total.

typically 5,650–7,150 ft

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

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.

Fire / medical: Fire and air-medical helicopters mean a fire response, a rescue, or a hospital transport — often brief, and often at low altitude.

Recent helicopter activity

Nearby coverage

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Helicopters over Phelan common questions

Is that a sheriff's helicopter over Phelan?

Sheriff's helicopters account for 23% of the 146 helicopter passes recorded over Phelan. The one you see most is LASD (N832SB), 8 recorded passes. They are usually 10am–1pm here. They typically fly at 4,200–5,050 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.

How high do helicopters fly over Phelan?

From the passes recorded here: private and charter helicopters at 4,500–5,600 ft; sheriff's helicopters at 4,200–5,050 ft; military helicopters at 5,650–7,150 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 Phelan?

Most passes are brief — a minute or two straight through. The aircraft that stay longest here are private and charter helicopters: 3.9 hours overhead across 87 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.