Helicopters over Upland

Police helicopters over Upland

544 of 737 recorded passes over Upland were police helicopters — 74% of the traffic here, 32.3 hours overhead in total.

Most often: Ontario PD (N30NT), 99 recorded passestypically 1,700–1,900 ft

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

Private and charter helicopters over Upland

147 of 737 recorded passes over Upland were private and charter helicopters — 20% of the traffic here, 4.4 hours overhead in total.

Most often: City Of Fontana California (N462PD), 7 recorded passestypically 1,600–2,150 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 Upland

15 of 737 recorded passes over Upland were sheriff's helicopters — 2% of the traffic here, 1 hour overhead in total.

Most often: San Bernardino Sheriff (N833SB), 3 recorded passes

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

News helicopters over Upland

12 of 737 recorded passes over Upland were news helicopters — 2% of the traffic here, 0.5 hours overhead in total.

Most often: ABC NewsCopter (N828AP), 3 recorded passes

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.

Why is a police helicopter circling over Upland?

Police helicopters account for 74% of the 737 helicopter passes recorded over Upland. The one you see most is Ontario PD (N30NT), 99 recorded passes. They typically fly at 1,700–1,900 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 sheriff's helicopter over Upland?

Sheriff's helicopters account for 2% of the 737 helicopter passes recorded over Upland. The one you see most is San Bernardino Sheriff (N833SB), 3 recorded passes. 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 Upland?

News helicopters account for 2% of the 737 helicopter passes recorded over Upland. The one you see most is ABC NewsCopter (N828AP), 3 recorded passes. 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 Upland?

From the passes recorded here: police helicopters at 1,700–1,900 ft; private and charter helicopters at 1,600–2,150 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 Upland?

Most passes are brief — a minute or two straight through. The aircraft that stay longest here are police helicopters: 32.3 hours overhead across 544 recorded passes. Police aircraft typically fly tight, repeated orbits over one spot to support officers on the ground, and can hold for a long time.

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.