With fire season quickly approaching, the number of helicopters operating in Santa Clarita airspace is expected to increase, so KHTS put together a quick guide to identifying which agency may be operating in your area.
A wide variety of groups operate helicopters within Santa Clarita airspace, including the Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD), Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), California Highway Patrol (CHP), Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) and even Southern California Edison.
LACoFD’s helicopters are identifiable by a single yellow stripe down the length of a white helicopter, with a black top half of the tail.
LAFD’s helicopters are red and white, with the front white half separated from the red back half by two diagonal black stripes across the middle of the aircraft.
These copters have many uses that are not just limited to fires. One of the most common calls for the LACoFD is for medical emergencies, according to officials.
The Fire copters are “ambulances in the sky,” with life-saving medical equipment on board, officials said.
CHP helicopters are black and white, with a wide white stripe dominating the cab of the aircraft.
LA County Sheriff’s Department aircraft utilize three shades of green in combination with gold accents on their aircraft in several patterns.
But it is not just first responders in the air; some utility companies, such as Southern California Edison, also have helicopters.
The top half of the cab of Southern California Edison helicopters are white, while the bottom half and tail utilize an interwoven green and yellow design.
Click here to see a map of aircraft activity in your area.
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The virtual radar in the link is fascinating. Thanks.
“CHP helicopters are black and white, with a wide white stripe dominating the cab of the aircraft.”
NOPE!
Black and White is LAPD.
CHP is BLUE/GOLD and White.