Helicopters over Whittier

Sheriff's helicopters over Whittier

503 of 779 recorded passes over Whittier were sheriff's helicopters — 65% of the traffic here, 22.9 hours overhead in total.

Most often: LASD (N962LA), 43 recorded passestypically 850–1,100 ft

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

Private and charter helicopters over Whittier

180 of 779 recorded passes over Whittier were private and charter helicopters — 23% of the traffic here, 24.6 hours overhead in total.

Most often: Anthelion Helicopters (N995NR), 6 recorded passestypically 950–1,500 ft

Private and charter aircraft are usually in transit, on a tour or a survey flight, and pass through without stopping.

News helicopters over Whittier

34 of 779 recorded passes over Whittier were news helicopters — 4% of the traffic here, 0.8 hours overhead in total.

Most often: NewsChopper 4 (N358TV), 4 recorded passesusually 11am–2pmtypically 950–1,300 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.

CHP helicopters over Whittier

21 of 779 recorded passes over Whittier were CHP helicopters — 3% of the traffic here, 1.2 hours overhead in total.

Most often: CHP (N984HP), 4 recorded passes

CHP aircraft work the freeways — pursuits, major collisions and traffic enforcement — and usually pass through rather than hold.

Is that a sheriff's helicopter over Whittier?

Sheriff's helicopters account for 65% of the 779 helicopter passes recorded over Whittier. The one you see most is LASD (N962LA), 43 recorded passes. They typically fly at 850–1,100 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 Whittier?

News helicopters account for 4% of the 779 helicopter passes recorded over Whittier. The one you see most is NewsChopper 4 (N358TV), 4 recorded passes. They are usually 11am–2pm here. They typically fly at 950–1,300 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 Whittier?

From the passes recorded here: sheriff's helicopters at 850–1,100 ft; private and charter helicopters at 950–1,500 ft; news helicopters at 950–1,300 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 Whittier?

Most passes are brief — a minute or two straight through. The aircraft that stay longest here are private and charter helicopters: 24.6 hours overhead across 180 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.