Helicopters over Santa Barbara
Live helicopter tracking for Santa Barbara, Los Angeles — updated every few seconds.
Checking the sky over Santa Barbara…
The sky over Santa Barbara
By hour of day
Who flies over Santa Barbara
- Private95%
- Sheriff5%
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.
Recent helicopter activity
- Jul 25, 8:47 AMPrivateN810CE950–1,000 ft1 minW
- Jul 24, 5:08 PMPrivateN825VJ1,900 ft1 minE
- Jul 23, 4:10 PMPrivateN4053T1,100–1,350 ft1 minE
- Jul 23, 1:13 PMPrivateN4043P750–825 ft1 minSE
- Jul 23, 12:38 PMPrivateN4043P825–1,050 ft2 minW
- Jul 23, 8:22 AMPrivateN810CE1,200–1,275 ft1 minW
- Jul 22, 2:18 PMPrivateN444DV500–600 ft1 minW
- Jul 22, 11:10 AMPrivateN4053T300–450 ft1 minNW
- Jul 21, 6:29 PMPrivateN318RX525–1,200 ft1 minSE
- Jul 21, 5:14 PMPrivateN318RX975 ft2 minN
- Jul 21, 4:55 PMPrivateN120DL650–850 ft1 minW
- Jul 21, 2:47 PMPrivateN120DL500–575 ft1 minE
- Jul 20, 10:17 AMPrivateN383SH675–775 ft1 minNW
- Jul 18, 11:40 AMPrivateN444DV700–900 ft1 minSE
- Jul 18, 9:53 AMPrivateN444DV500 ft1 minW
- Jul 17, 2:55 PMPrivateN728PG700–1,000 ft1 minSE
- Jul 17, 2:07 PMPrivateN728PG1,200–1,300 ft1 minW
- Jul 15, 2:18 PMPrivateN444DV700–1,000 ft1 minNW
- Jul 14, 5:12 PMPrivateN323CH600–800 ft1 minSE
- Jul 14, 4:45 PMPrivateN810CE925–1,100 ft1 minE
- Jul 14, 3:59 PMPrivateN323CH800–900 ft1 minNW
- Jul 14, 3:29 PMPrivateN435AK700–1,000 ft1 minE
- Jul 14, 1:11 PMPrivateN810CE975–1,050 ft1 minW
- Jul 14, 12:23 PMPrivateN435AK400–600 ft6 minNW
- Jul 13, 4:00 PMPrivateN412ES1,000 ft1 minSE
- Jul 13, 10:32 AMPrivateN444DV600–700 ft1 minW
- Jul 13, 7:51 AMPrivateN412ES800–1,100 ft1 minNW
- Jul 12, 6:34 PMPrivateN821MR850–925 ft1 minW
- Jul 12, 5:38 PMSheriffN911KP375–525 ft1 minSE
- Jul 12, 4:48 PMSheriffN911KP325–500 ft1 minW
- Jul 12, 3:37 PMPrivateN120DL700 ft1 minW
- Jul 12, 1:25 PMPrivateN120DL450–525 ft1 minE
- Jul 12, 9:25 AMPrivateN323CH800 ft1 minSE
- Jul 11, 5:24 PMPrivateN892CS375–600 ft2 minW
- Jul 11, 1:32 PMPrivateN120DL450–525 ft1 minE
- Jul 9, 1:58 PMPrivateN120DL1,050–1,175 ft1 minW
- Jul 9, 10:41 AMPrivateN295SJ750–900 ft1 minW
- Jul 9, 10:25 AMPrivateN120DL550–675 ft1 minE
- Jul 9, 7:33 AMPrivateN617AC700 ft1 minNW
- Jul 8, 3:34 PMPrivateN120DL850–950 ft1 minW
Nearby coverage
Helicopters over Santa Barbara: common questions
Why is there a helicopter over Santa Barbara?
Most helicopter activity over Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara?
Based on 56 tracked passes over Santa Barbara, 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.