Helicopters over Torrance

Private and charter helicopters over Torrance

172 of 236 recorded passes over Torrance were private and charter helicopters — 73% of the traffic here, 4.8 hours overhead in total.

Most often: Mercy Air (N908KB), 21 recorded passestypically 600–1,000 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 Torrance

26 of 236 recorded passes over Torrance were sheriff's helicopters — 11% of the traffic here, 1.2 hours overhead in total.

Most often: LASD (N953LA), 5 recorded passestypically 550–800 ft

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

News helicopters over Torrance

11 of 236 recorded passes over Torrance were news helicopters — 5% of the traffic here, 0.4 hours overhead in total.

Most often: AIR7 (backup) (N29HD), 3 recorded passestypically 600–900 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.

Military helicopters over Torrance

11 of 236 recorded passes over Torrance were military helicopters — 5% of the traffic here, 0.3 hours overhead in total.

typically 550–3,500 ft

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

Is that a sheriff's helicopter over Torrance?

Sheriff's helicopters account for 11% of the 236 helicopter passes recorded over Torrance. The one you see most is LASD (N953LA), 5 recorded passes. They typically fly at 550–800 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.

Is that a news helicopter over Torrance?

News helicopters account for 5% of the 236 helicopter passes recorded over Torrance. The one you see most is AIR7 (backup) (N29HD), 3 recorded passes. They typically fly at 600–900 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 Torrance?

From the passes recorded here: private and charter helicopters at 600–1,000 ft; sheriff's helicopters at 550–800 ft; news helicopters at 600–900 ft; military helicopters at 550–3,500 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 Torrance?

Most passes are brief — a minute or two straight through. The aircraft that stay longest here are private and charter helicopters: 4.8 hours overhead across 172 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.