Helicopters over Temple City

Private and charter helicopters over Temple City

239 of 559 recorded passes over Temple City were private and charter helicopters — 43% of the traffic here, 7.4 hours overhead in total.

Most often: Uaa International (N6522), 24 recorded passestypically 600–1,100 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 Temple City

115 of 559 recorded passes over Temple City were sheriff's helicopters — 21% of the traffic here, 4.5 hours overhead in total.

Most often: LASD (N960LA), 15 recorded passesusually 7pm–10pmtypically 850–1,200 ft

Sheriff's aircraft fly patrol, search and rescue across the county, and orbit a scene the same way police aircraft do.

Police helicopters over Temple City

99 of 559 recorded passes over Temple City were police helicopters — 18% of the traffic here, 5.3 hours overhead in total.

Most often: Pasadena PD (N239PS), 20 recorded passesusually 9pm–12amtypically 1,200–1,900 ft

Police aircraft typically fly tight, repeated orbits over one spot to support officers on the ground, and can hold for a long time.

News helicopters over Temple City

60 of 559 recorded passes over Temple City were news helicopters — 11% of the traffic here, 1.7 hours overhead in total.

Most often: Sky5 (N925TV), 6 recorded passestypically 1,400–1,800 ft

News helicopters hold a wider circle at a higher altitude and arrive after a story is already underway; several at once usually means something is being covered live.

Is that a sheriff's helicopter over Temple City?

Sheriff's helicopters account for 21% of the 559 helicopter passes recorded over Temple City. The one you see most is LASD (N960LA), 15 recorded passes. They are usually 7pm–10pm here. They typically fly at 850–1,200 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 police helicopter circling over Temple City?

Police helicopters account for 18% of the 559 helicopter passes recorded over Temple City. The one you see most is Pasadena PD (N239PS), 20 recorded passes. They are usually 9pm–12am here. They typically fly at 1,200–1,900 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.

Is that a news helicopter over Temple City?

News helicopters account for 11% of the 559 helicopter passes recorded over Temple City. The one you see most is Sky5 (N925TV), 6 recorded passes. They typically fly at 1,400–1,800 ft above sea level. News helicopters hold a wider circle at a higher altitude and arrive after a story is already underway; several at once usually means something is being covered live.

How high do helicopters fly over Temple City?

From the passes recorded here: private and charter helicopters at 600–1,100 ft; sheriff's helicopters at 850–1,200 ft; police helicopters at 1,200–1,900 ft; news helicopters at 1,400–1,800 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 Temple City?

Most passes are brief — a minute or two straight through. The aircraft that stay longest here are private and charter helicopters: 7.4 hours overhead across 239 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 Live 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.