Helicopters over San Clemente
Live helicopter tracking for San Clemente, Los Angeles — updated every few seconds.
Checking the sky over San Clemente…
The sky over San Clemente
By hour of day
Who flies over San Clemente
- Private56%
- Sheriff29%
- Military12%
- Fire / medical2%
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
- Jul 24, 10:13 PMOrange Co SheriffN184SD900–1,100 ft5 minNW
- Jul 24, 8:27 PMPrivateN738AM3,525 ft1 minS
- Jul 24, 6:24 PMPrivateN738AM4,575 ft1 minNW
- Jul 24, 6:14 PMPrivateN7096L525–1,200 ft1 minNW
- Jul 24, 6:04 PMPrivateN108EH2,300–2,600 ft1 minSE
- Jul 24, 4:09 PMPrivateN7096L2,100–2,550 ft1 minSE
- Jul 24, 3:20 PMPrivateN108EH2,000–2,300 ft1 minNW
- Jul 24, 2:11 PMPrivateN542AG350–600 ft2 minSE
- Jul 24, 11:38 AMPrivateN542AG725–1,600 ft1 minNW
- Jul 23, 2:02 PMMercy AirN908KB575–1,050 ft3 minN
- Jul 23, 1:17 PMPrivateN683W1,425–1,850 ft1 minW
- Jul 23, 1:06 PMPrivateN683W1,825–1,850 ft1 minNE
- Jul 22, 12:28 PMMil / CG1681301,075–1,350 ft1 minN
- Jul 22, 8:36 AMPrivate400–950 ft4 minN
- Jul 20, 3:22 PMOrange Co SheriffN184SD200–500 ft2 minNW
- Jul 20, 2:50 PMOrange Co SheriffN184SD500–600 ft1 minSE
- Jul 19, 8:07 PMPrivateN738AM775–1,225 ft1 minN
- Jul 19, 1:01 PMPrivate1647801,475–1,550 ft1 minNW
- Jul 17, 10:37 AMSoCal EdisonN413CE325–350 ft1 minSE
- Jul 16, 5:55 PMPrivate5,125 ft1 minSE
- Jul 15, 3:05 PMPrivateN644WB1,850–2,250 ft1 minSE
- Jul 14, 4:55 PMPrivateN707272,125–2,925 ft1 minNW
- Jul 10, 4:32 PMPrivateN70727550–850 ft3 minNW
- Jul 9, 4:49 PMPrivateN433AK600 ft1 minNW
- Jul 9, 1:05 PMPrivateN354MH3,500–3,700 ft1 minSE
- Jul 9, 1:05 PMUS NAVY1681576,075 ft1 minNW
- Jul 9, 11:50 AMPrivateN826PD550–625 ft1 minSE
- Jul 8, 3:33 PMOrange Co SheriffN184SD700–1,100 ft2 minN
- Jul 8, 2:18 PMUS NAVY1681576,000 ft1 minNW
- Jul 7, 6:53 PMOrange Co SheriffN184SD200–800 ft2 minN
- Jul 7, 10:59 AMSheriffN183SD350–675 ft5 minNW
- Jul 5, 7:52 AMUS Coast Guard6055225–450 ft2 minNW
- Jul 5, 6:54 AMUS Coast Guard6055225–325 ft3 minSE
- Jul 5, 6:50 AMOrange Co SheriffN184SD400–900 ft17 minE
- Jul 4, 5:53 PMPrivateN723ML1,400–1,500 ft1 minNW
- Jul 4, 4:31 PMOrange Co SheriffN184SD200–700 ft3 minNW
- Jul 4, 10:38 AMFire/EMSN241FA100–1,000 ft2 minN
- Jul 3, 8:56 PMOrange Co SheriffN184SD1,100 ft1 minNW
- Jul 3, 8:48 PMOrange Co SheriffN184SD1,100–1,200 ft1 minSE
- Jul 2, 6:34 PMOrange Co SheriffN184SD700–1,300 ft2 minNE
Nearby coverage
Helicopters over San Clemente: common questions
Why is there a helicopter over San Clemente?
Most helicopter activity over San Clemente 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 San Clemente?
Based on 41 tracked passes over San Clemente, the most common hour for helicopter activity is around 1pm 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.