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edit: I've written a more thorough guide available here once the mods remove it from the block filter https://www.reddit.com/r/chicago/comments/1ocer4w/did_you_just_hear_or_see_a_helicopter_a_guide_to/ I've been working on cataloging all the common helicopters in the city. Here's the work in progress. ICE Registration | Callsign | Owner | Type | Model | Link | Notes | 86-24548 | TROY228 | US Customs and Border Protection | H60 | Sikorsky UH-60A Black Hawk | N203Z | TROY | DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY | AS50 | 2020 AEROSPATIALE AS-350 Ecureuil | View | N753E | DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY | AS50 | 2021 AEROSPATIALE AS-350 Ecureuil | View | N893N | 12345 | US Customs and Border Protection | AS50 | 2021 AEROSPATIALE AS-350 Ecureuil | View News Registration | Callsign | Owner | Type | Model | Link | Notes | N117HD | US HELICOPTERS INC | AS50 | 2000 AEROSPATIALE AS-350 Ecureuil | View | N12BQ | HELICOPTERS INC | B06 | BELL 206 JetRanger | View | Backup | N13NN | HELICOPTERS INC | B06 | 2008 BELL 206 JetRanger | View | N5QY | HELIINC LLC | B06 | 2013 BELL 206 JetRanger | View | N888TV | U S HELICOPTERS INC | AS50 | 1978 AEROSPATIALE AS-350 Ecureuil | View | N933HD | US HELICOPTERS INC | AS50 | 2013 AEROSPATIALE AS-350 Ecureuil | View Police Registration | Callsign | Owner | Type | Model | Link | Notes | N356LC | LAKE COUNTY INDIANA, C/O LAKE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT | EC20 | 2009 AIRBUS HELICOPTERS EC-120 | View | N911VH | COOK COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE | B429 | 2024 BELL 429 GlobalRanger | View | N911ZP | CITY OF CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF POLICE | B429 | 2024 BELL 429 GlobalRanger | View | N911ZQ | CITY OF CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF POLICE | B407 | BELL 407 | View | N911ZR | CITY OF CHICAGO, DEPARTMENT OF POLICE | B407 | 2024 BELL 407 | View Fire Registration | Callsign | Owner | Type | Model | Link | Notes | N682FD | CITY OF CHICAGO FIRE DEPARTMENT | B412 | 2001 BELL 412 | View Heavy Lift Registration | Callsign | Owner | Type | Model | Link | Notes | N4247V | MIDWEST TRUXTON INTERNATIONAL INC | S58T | 2007 SIKORSKY S-58T | View Power & Gas/Utility Registration | Callsign | Owner | Type | Model | Link | Notes | N899NP | NORTHERN INDIANA PUBLIC SERVICE CO LLC | B429 | BELL 429 GlobalRanger | View Tour Registration | Callsign | Owner | Type | Model | Link | Notes | N357EB | PARATUS AIR INC DBA, FLY HELI | R44 | 2004 ROBINSON R-44 Raven | View | N442MW | PARATUS AIR DBA, FLY HELI | R44 | 2008 ROBINSON R-44 Raven | View | Flight track shows consistent route from bridgeport to circle downtown (and sometimes Wrigley) | N883WR | SPITZER HELICOPTER LLC | R44 | 2008 ROBINSON R-44 Raven | View Answer from 99ducks on reddit.com
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New York City Council
council.nyc.gov › data › helicopter-noise-and-safety
Helicopter Noise and Safety - Data Team
Queens: Howard Beach – Lindenwood, Whitestone – Beechhurst. ... Understanding which flight paths pass over neighborhoods with high complaints can help determine which heliports and flight types are causing the most disruption.
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Citizen
citizen.com › explore
Citizen: Keeping you safe & informed
Citizen helps you stay safe & informed, by providing instant notifications and live broadcasts of reported crimes and incidents near you.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/chicago › can somebody explain the helicopters once and for all
r/chicago on Reddit: Can somebody explain the helicopters once and for all
October 21, 2025 -

Hello! I live in a neighbourhood that has been repeatedly targeted by ICE and with everything going on in Chicago, I've noticed a lot more helicopter activity overnight or early in the morning.

I have gone through some prior posts on identifying helicopters and have the Flight Radar app but it doesn't necessarily identify the helicopter beyond the registration number.

I would love if people could share information on how to identify an ICE/DHS helicopter vs. news and other helicopters, because at this point the sound of helicopters is giving me anxiety for my neighbourhood and community.

Thank you for answering. I love this city and its wonderful communities. Please keep safe ❤️

Update: Thank you everyone for the thoughtful comments! I really appreciate it and I'm learning a lot more about helicopters than ever before.

Top answer
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edit: I've written a more thorough guide available here once the mods remove it from the block filter https://www.reddit.com/r/chicago/comments/1ocer4w/did_you_just_hear_or_see_a_helicopter_a_guide_to/ I've been working on cataloging all the common helicopters in the city. Here's the work in progress. ICE Registration | Callsign | Owner | Type | Model | Link | Notes | 86-24548 | TROY228 | US Customs and Border Protection | H60 | Sikorsky UH-60A Black Hawk | N203Z | TROY | DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY | AS50 | 2020 AEROSPATIALE AS-350 Ecureuil | View | N753E | DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY | AS50 | 2021 AEROSPATIALE AS-350 Ecureuil | View | N893N | 12345 | US Customs and Border Protection | AS50 | 2021 AEROSPATIALE AS-350 Ecureuil | View News Registration | Callsign | Owner | Type | Model | Link | Notes | N117HD | US HELICOPTERS INC | AS50 | 2000 AEROSPATIALE AS-350 Ecureuil | View | N12BQ | HELICOPTERS INC | B06 | BELL 206 JetRanger | View | Backup | N13NN | HELICOPTERS INC | B06 | 2008 BELL 206 JetRanger | View | N5QY | HELIINC LLC | B06 | 2013 BELL 206 JetRanger | View | N888TV | U S HELICOPTERS INC | AS50 | 1978 AEROSPATIALE AS-350 Ecureuil | View | N933HD | US HELICOPTERS INC | AS50 | 2013 AEROSPATIALE AS-350 Ecureuil | View Police Registration | Callsign | Owner | Type | Model | Link | Notes | N356LC | LAKE COUNTY INDIANA, C/O LAKE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT | EC20 | 2009 AIRBUS HELICOPTERS EC-120 | View | N911VH | COOK COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE | B429 | 2024 BELL 429 GlobalRanger | View | N911ZP | CITY OF CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF POLICE | B429 | 2024 BELL 429 GlobalRanger | View | N911ZQ | CITY OF CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF POLICE | B407 | BELL 407 | View | N911ZR | CITY OF CHICAGO, DEPARTMENT OF POLICE | B407 | 2024 BELL 407 | View Fire Registration | Callsign | Owner | Type | Model | Link | Notes | N682FD | CITY OF CHICAGO FIRE DEPARTMENT | B412 | 2001 BELL 412 | View Heavy Lift Registration | Callsign | Owner | Type | Model | Link | Notes | N4247V | MIDWEST TRUXTON INTERNATIONAL INC | S58T | 2007 SIKORSKY S-58T | View Power & Gas/Utility Registration | Callsign | Owner | Type | Model | Link | Notes | N899NP | NORTHERN INDIANA PUBLIC SERVICE CO LLC | B429 | BELL 429 GlobalRanger | View Tour Registration | Callsign | Owner | Type | Model | Link | Notes | N357EB | PARATUS AIR INC DBA, FLY HELI | R44 | 2004 ROBINSON R-44 Raven | View | N442MW | PARATUS AIR DBA, FLY HELI | R44 | 2008 ROBINSON R-44 Raven | View | Flight track shows consistent route from bridgeport to circle downtown (and sometimes Wrigley) | N883WR | SPITZER HELICOPTER LLC | R44 | 2008 ROBINSON R-44 Raven | View
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As someone who has been overly interested in helicopter activity in Chi lately, and is outside riding my bike and doing things around town, I have been referencing ADS-B every time I hear or see a heli. My experience is probably heavily skewed because I'm on the Westside by i290. What I've noted anecdotally: close to half the time it's local police. CPD and CCSO have been flying choppers along the freeway corridors a lot. And CPD seems to fly in response to other incidents as well maybe twice a day outside of just flying the interstates. close to half the time it's news helicopters and other privately owned helicopters, seems like some aren't necessarily news helis, but companies that sell footage... idk for sure. CFD runs flights Medical flights there's a heli tour company based near the Rush/Cook County medical center that runs many flights And the helis I've seen the least has been CBP/ICE/DHS, when I've seen them, they've flown in from the West Suburbs, I think it was DuPage County Airport they took off from but I can't remember for sure because I look at this stuff too much Checking every day, multiple times a day, I've only spotted DHS three times. And DHS is the only one I've seen 'go dark' mid-flight. It's the only one that I've seen with my eyes, but not on ADS-B. So if it's not on ADS-B but you see it flying, it's probably DHS ime.
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Facebook
facebook.com › groups › baysidequeens › posts › 10157451872724809
NYPD helicopter circling Bell Blvd for something (or ...
Popular groups · Find communities for you · Over 1 billion people across the globe are using Facebook Groups to explore their favorite topics · Log in · Categories · Science & tech · Travel · Animals · Sports & fitness · Entertainment
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Citizen
citizen.com › -NiCyECPW5WgPQPi4LDU
Helicopters in Sky Over Queens @Citizen | Instant 911 Crime And Safety Alerts
November 2, 2023 - Glendale, Queens - A Citizen user shows video of a helicopter hovering overhead. Do you have more information? Leave a comment or broadcast live.
Address   76-18 69th Pl, Queens, NY 11385, USA
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CBS News
cbsnews.com › helicopter
Helicopter news - Today’s latest updates - CBS Chicago
The $11 million twin-engine Bell 429 is CPD's first new helicopter since 2006. It was purchased with federal funding for DNC security. ... The sightseeing trips can take off and land every five minutes or so from Vertiport Chicago on the Near ...
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/chicago › can we talk about the helicopters?
r/chicago on Reddit: Can we talk about the helicopters?
October 23, 2025 -

i work on the 14th floor of a building downtown that faces the lake. i see 1-3 helicopters go by my window every shift now. they are generally all CPD, although Ive seen 1 military helicopter the same day as the notorious southside apartment raid.. i question what CPD are doing up there constantly. the same day i saw the military one, i also saw a CPD-copter go by with two men in green fatigues sitting out the open door with their feet hanging down. wtf is that about?? is it possible ICE is using CPDs helicopters? if not, what is CPD doing and are they correlated?

i write this after a helicopter hovered nearly above my house for the last ten mins..

Also, whats up with the small white smooth looking aircrafts? ive seen them 2-3 times. anyone else?

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Heli Alaska Inc
helialaskainc.com › home › seeing helicopter activity in my area right now? here’s how to find out why.
Seeing Helicopter Activity in My Area Right Now? Here’s How to Find Out Why. - Heli Alaska, Inc.
July 17, 2025 - It shows you a live map with aircraft moving in real-time. You can tap on a helicopter icon to see details like its route, altitude, speed, and even the aircraft type. It’s like having an air traffic control screen in your pocket.
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TikTok
tiktok.com › discover › helicopters-flying-over-queens-middle-village-right-now
Helicopters Flying over Queens Middle Village Right Now | TikTok
December 1, 2025 - NYPD ESU R.E.P. Truck responding to a man shot in Hollis. Address: 110-08 202nd Street Hollis Queens, NYC Helicopters currently in the air right now. ... Helicopter In Astoria, I wonder why?
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BLADE
blade.com › p › jfk
Helicopter Transfers Between JFK Airport and Manhattan - BLADE
On the riverside of FDR drive and 34th Street. View map ... View BLADE's jet and helicopter charter routes.
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AirNav Radar
airnavradar.com › stations › EXTRPI001990
Chicago, IL - United States Station - AirNav Radar - Global Flight Tracking Intelligence | Live Flight Tracker and Airport Status
Real-time flight tracking with one of the best and most accurate ADS-B coverage worldwide. Check airport arrivals and departures status and aircraft history.
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Address   Post Code, City, Country
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WGN-TV
wgntv.com › news › chicago-news › military-helicopters-in-formation-over-chicago
Why are military helicopters over Chicago?
July 4, 2024 - An alert from Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications said “military helicopters” will be flying in formation as part of practice for “upcoming flyovers that will take place during events today and this weekend.”
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TikTok
tiktok.com › discover › why-is-police-helicopter-flying-around-queens-nyc-right-now
Why Is Police Helicopter Flying around Queens Nyc Right Now | TikTok
September 22, 2025 - Curious about the helicopter activity in Queens, NYC? Discover why police helicopters are flying overhead today and what it means for the community.See more videos about Why Is Police Helicopter Flying around Queens Nyc Right Now at 1130pm in Jamaica Queens, Military Helicopters Flying over ...