Cleveland Police Helicopter Tracker

How often do Cleveland police helicopters fly?

We've been tracking since August 2025. So far: 292 flights in 269 days. 65% happened after 7 PM.

Based on 292 flights tracked from 2025-08-14 to 2026-05-09.

Refurbishment cost $3.5M spent to refurbish two helicopters
Total flights 292 in the last 269 days
Evening & night 65% of flights after 7 PM
Noise at ground level ~82 dB at typical patrol altitude WHO nighttime limit: 40 dB →
Annual operating cost $118K–$237K estimated per year in fuel, maintenance, and crew — based on 436 flight hours at $200–$400/hr

Where they fly

Flight paths plotted on the map, based on public transponder data.

When they fly

Every day, colored by hours of helicopter activity.

What time

Most flights happen in the evening and at night.

37% wind-down hours 7–10 PM
28% sleeping hours 10 PM–5 AM

Why this matters

Cleveland spent $3.5 million to refurbish two police helicopters. They fly on more than half of all days, often circling over residential neighborhoods during evening and nighttime hours.

At ground level, these helicopters produce approximately 82 dB of noise. The World Health Organization recommends a nighttime limit of 40 dB. Peer-reviewed research links this level of noise exposure to sleep disruption, cardiovascular harm, and impacts on children's learning.

Learn more

Read the research

See what peer-reviewed studies say about helicopter noise, health impacts, and whether patrols actually reduce crime.

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Here's what you can do

Call 311, contact your council member, and share the data. Every call gets logged. Numbers add up.

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