Flightradar24 - aircraft tracking. Online Radar of Aircraft in Flight

FlightRadar | History and description

In 2007, the Swedish company Travel Network developed the Flightradar24 real-time tracking system for aircraft in the air. The radar operates 24 hours a day. The data received by the system is displayed on the map and allows you to see aircraft online all over the world - a map of aircraft flights.

When you select an aircraft on the map, the system displays a list of its data, including:

  • type of aircraft and its photo,
  • tail number and affiliation with the airline,
  • place of departure and embarkation,
  • altitude and speed at the moment,
  • geographic position in degrees,
  • distance traveled from the airport of departure and other data.

The system also supports aircraft search by flight number.

The database is updated every few seconds, while the positions of all aircraft on the map are updated. The collected data is stored in the system memory for 28 days, allowing you to track not only the current flights, but also those that have already been completed. Such a Flytradar24 has become very popular in our time. People use it for certain tasks - to track a flight, or they are simply interested in observing airplanes on the radar online.

How the Flytradar works

Almost all aircraft of the latest generations use the method of receiving flight information from the aircraft using the ADS-B transponder. This allows you to track the movement of cargo and passenger aircraft in different parts of the world. However, the system does not track aircraft that are not equipped with this transmitter.

Currently, no more than 60% of aircraft in the world (less than 30% in the USA, but more than 70% in Europe) are equipped with this device, but their number is constantly increasing.

What is the coverage area of ​​the Fly Radar system?
Aircraft Map - The Flytradar system uses over 500 transceiver stations that communicate with the ADS-B transponder. They collect information from all aircraft in the air, equipped with ADS-B transponders, and transmit it to the central server of the system, which, after processing the data, displays the position of these aircraft on a map in real time.

Of course, aircraft without ADS-B transponders, or outside the coverage area of ​​the network of stations, are not displayed on the service map. More than 90% of Europe is covered by a network of stations, coverage is also present in North and South America, Australia, Japan and some other regions of the Earth.

Displayed aircraft types on Flyradar
Listed below are all types of aircraft displayed by the system (with an ADS-B transponder):

  • All Airbus (Airbus A300 - A380)
  • BAe ATP
  • BAe Avro RJ70-85-100
  • The most popular Boeing modifications (Boeing 737, 747, 757, 767, 777, 787)
  • Newest Embraer E190
  • Fokker 70 - 100
  • Gulfstream V, Gulfstream G500 / 550
  • McDonnell Douglas MD10 - MD11
  • Sukhoi SuperJet 100
  • The latest models of Ilov and Tu (Il-96 and Tu-204)

Aircraft types not displayed on Flightradar24 (without ADS-B sensor)

  • An-225 "Mriya"
  • ATR-42 - 72
  • Boeing 707, 717, 727, 737-200, 747-100, 747-200, 747SP
  • CASA all models
  • Bombardier of all models
  • Dornier 328
  • Embraer legacy models
  • Jetstream 32
  • Fokker 50
  • McDonnell Douglas DC-9, MD-8x, MD-9x
  • Saab 340 - 2000
  • Aircraft Presidents ("Air Force One")
  • Obsolete aircraft models
  • The vast majority of military aircraft of all countries

There are a huge number of exceptions. Some aircraft from various companies or the popular Cessna private jets are visible on Flyradar, while some Boeing and Airbus aircraft that are not equipped with ADS-B transmitters are not visible on the service map. Online airplane map is one of the most interesting inventions that is being improved every day - stay tuned.

We have already talked about the interesting and useful Flightradar24 service in. The turn of the mobile application has come, which is available for iOS, Android and even Windows Phone. There is both a free version with basic functions (in particular, displaying planes on a map), and a full Pro version, which is priced at a very modest and adequate amount of utility.

So what does the app do? Firstly, it is, in fact, the display on the map of aircraft flying at the moment, equipped with an ADS-B transmitter. Based on the data from it, the current coordinates (including altitude) are available, and, as a result, the vertical speed and speed over the ground, the flight number (and, accordingly, the route), as well as the board number and the transponder code (Squawk). The latter is needed in order to be able to track, first of all, the emergency codes of the responders, which the crew sets when an abnormal situation occurs on board (for example, when an aircraft is hijacked). Accordingly, there is a function of notification of such situations.

You can also view the “cockpit view” of the aircraft - in fact, this is just a projection of satellite images, the angle of which is selected taking into account the altitude and direction of flight. Since the determination of coordinates and the transfer of data from transponders can occur (and does!) With a delay and error, the picture sometimes starts to “jump”.

However, it is much more interesting (and this function is only in the application, and not on the web version of the service) the “augmented reality” mode, when enabled, you can point the camera of your smartphone or tablet at the sky, where, as you can see, the plane is flying ... and on the screen next to this plane, all data about the flight and about the plane itself will appear. It seems like a miracle, but in reality everything is simple: your location is known from GPS data. According to the information from the compass built into the mobile device and tilt sensors, it is clear where the camera lens is directed at the moment. Further, a simple calculation - and an elementary comparison of the available data.


Secondly, the application has a convenient search for flights, airlines and airports. Of course, most of all it is focused on spotters (as well as, in fact, the entire service and application), however, thanks to him, an ordinary passenger can keep track of when his plane actually arrives (important when flying from anywhere to the home airport); and the one who does not fly anywhere at all can keep track of when to meet long-awaited relatives, and at the same time be aware that they have successfully flown to some distant Dominican Republic (a disguised aerophobe is alive in almost all of us!).


For a surcharge, you can turn on the airport scoreboard function in the application, which displays the actual (as well as predicted based on real flight data) departure and arrival times of all flights at the airport (you understand that the information on the airports' websites is far from up-to-date). To indulge, you can buy more, for example, a set of aircraft icons, then their silhouettes will differ depending on the type.

Online flights of aircraft in real time - a unique opportunity to track the directions of air transportation on the map, to see the full route of any aircraft.
Aircraft carry out thousands of air traffic every day and are a kind of connecting link between different points on the planet. Quite recently, it was possible to get information about the flight only at the airport on the information board; today, a real-time flight map of aircraft solves this problem.
Online monitoring, which visually monitors aircraft, is gaining momentum today, and every day more and more users view and track the movement of aircraft using a convenient map.

Online real-time map of aircraft flights

    The innovative service processes and displays information received from aircraft in the form of miniature icons that move over the world map. By clicking on a specific image, the system displays a list of data:
  • the name of the airline carrying out transportation on this vessel;
  • type of aircraft and its photo;
  • place and time of departure and landing;
  • the altitude and speed of the aircraft.
The flight of the aircraft is also tracked online by the flight number. To do this, certain data are entered into the search form, and after a few seconds, all information about the status of the flight of interest will appear on the screen. The route and the remaining flight time will be visible.

Online air travel in real time: how it works

The air route map shows objects equipped with the latest ADS-B system. The corresponding receiving stations respond to the radio answering machine, which process the data, transmitting it in response and making it possible to track the routes of the aircraft in real time.
The aircraft receives information about its position in the air from GPS satellites. The embedded ADS-B system then transmits the aircraft's position in relation to other objects and ground stations.
The air traffic services surveillance system collects information data from all aircraft. It is possible to track the flight of the aircraft in real time, provided that the aircraft is equipped with an ADS-B radio responder. Accordingly, all aircraft that are not equipped with transponders or are outside the flight coverage area of ​​the network of receiving stations are not displayed in the service system. The territory of Europe is almost completely covered, from here comes the all-encompassing information about air transportation.

Flights: Online Tracking and Its Benefits

    Tracking in real time using an online service allows you to:
  • see the route and data of the liner that carries out air transportation of your relatives or friends;
  • for air amateurs to understand the responsible work of airline dispatchers;
  • evaluate the effective functioning of a particular airline.
Online real-time aircraft flights can now be tracked by anyone and witness the activities of the air transport industry.
The card can also become a tool for controlling the quality of services provided by companies. Now you can independently monitor the activities of airlines, evaluate the accuracy and efficiency of the organization of flights. It is easy to navigate and track objects of interest on the map, scaling individual areas and studying flights in airspace.
Online flight map in real time is the most interesting and significant invention, which is being improved every day. Track airliners and service changes being introduced.

The extensive coverage of Flytradar ensures the successful operation of the service throughout Europe and the United States of America. The functionality of the tracker was appreciated by clients from Ukraine, Russia, Canada, Mexico, Latin America, South Africa, and in Asian countries it generally occupies a leading position among similar services.

Flightradar24 covers almost all countries of the world, tracking 960 airlines and 32505 aircraft. The service also provides detailed information on the operation of 8675 airports located in 190 countries. Flightradar monitors their condition, weather conditions in the region, keeps track of the number of aircraft that have departed and arrived. Those airports that are under radar control are marked in blue.

The quality of coverage is determined not only by the number of ADS-B receivers installed, but by their technical characteristics and the location of the antennas. One ground station is capable of receiving aircraft signals within a radius of 200 to 400 km.

The visibility of air transport depends not only on the capabilities of the receiving station, but also on other factors, such as the type of aircraft and transponder. Of no less importance are such indicators as: flight altitude and terrain - it is obvious that on the plain, the equipment will show the best result.

A new review is devoted to air travel: we have tested and selected applications that will help make waiting for a flight and the flight itself comfortable. We have not included numerous flight booking services, travel planners and collection assistants here: only those that come in handy at the airport or on the plane.

1. SkyGuru: Pocket Aerophobe Assistant

A new application from Russian developers is designed to help those who are afraid to fly. Created by a professional pilot, head of the Aerophobia Research Center "We Fly Without Fear" Alexey Gervash, the app clearly explains every sound and movement in flight - as if a pilot were sitting next to you. The application works even in airplane mode; however, to do this, you must first inform him of the flight number: then it will download information about the upcoming flight from professional sources, and the smartphone's sensors will help to recognize the current stages of the flight.

The application will warn you about turbulence (including the estimated time of entry into the zone and the duration of each) and will tell you why it is not dangerous, describe the weather at the airport of departure and explain its effect on your feelings during takeoff, calculate the actual travel time taking into account the wind, comment on published aircraft sounds, warns of possible missed approaches during landing and other maneuvers, shows the current position of the aircraft in space, explains possible reasons for flight delays, advises special techniques and exercises to combat aerophobia, answers “why the light is flashing”, “why open curtains ”and will entertain you with a lot of interesting facts. As a result, the flight turns into a conscious and therefore much less frightening process.

The only drawback is the price: SkyGuru costs 1,490 rubles. Those who have installed the application claim that it is worth its money - flying with it is almost not scary. SkyGuru will also be liked by those who are not afraid to fly, but are interested in aviation.

2. FlightBoard: airport information board in smartphone

The application turns your smartphone or tablet into an information board for the selected airport. It allows you to view the status of any flight in real time, specify the time of departure and arrival, and find out which planes are arriving in your city right now.

FlightBoard covers more than 3000 airports and 1400 airlines (charter flights, unfortunately, are not counted); information is updated every 5 minutes. Nice design "sketched" from the information board of Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris.

The application is Russified. Cost - 299 rubles.

3. App in the air: flight manager

A handy pocket assistant will inform you about all flight changes, advise where to eat at the airport, where to find a power outlet and how to connect to Wi-Fi, help you check in for a flight and navigate airline loyalty programs. The functionality of the application is constantly expanding: the ability to track baggage has recently been added (for several airlines so far). Another fun option is the statistics of all your flights, including the total number of miles.

The application is Russified and covers 5000 airports around the world. When purchasing a premium version, App in the air works even in offline mode (schedule changes are delivered via SMS and do not require Internet access: very convenient when you are in roaming).

Subscription for 3 months costs 699 rubles.

Thanks to the application, you can monitor the movement of aircraft around the world in real time. By clicking on any of the planes on the map, you will receive all information about the flight: route, departure and arrival times, model, speed, altitude (you can do the same by pointing your phone at a plane flying in the sky). In addition, in the application, you can find flights by number, airport or airline, view the scoreboards of major airports, receive a notification about changes in the desired flight - and even see what the pilot of this or that aircraft sees in front of him. True, most of the features are available with the purchase of the premium version.

Price - about 280 rubles.

A program to help you choose the best seats on board. All you have to do is enter the flight number, and SeatGuru will show the plane plan with the available seats, with the characteristics of each of them and with the photos of the users. If you don't remember the flight number, it doesn't matter: it is easy to find it by airline and departure time. You can check the status of the flight and ticket prices for the directions of interest.

The application is not Russified, but it works with most domestic airlines and airports.

Free and does not include in-app purchases.

6. GateGuru: airport guide

Free TripAdvisor app: by choosing the desired airport, you can find out about the cafes, bars, shops, ATMs, lounges there. Objects are sorted into three sections: "Food", "Shops" and "Services". Also presented are the plans of the airports with the designation of check-in counters and boarding gates.
The application is not Russified; domestic airports are poorly represented in it (they exist, but there is little information on them). But when traveling abroad, the application can be useful.

7. ATPL Dictionary: air translator

An excellent app for those interested in aviation cuisine. A dictionary that contains more than a thousand highly specialized words and expressions that are understandable to pilots, but completely unknown to ordinary passengers. Unfortunately, the application is not Russified.

8. Flight +: all flight details

Pocket traveler's assistant: by entering the flight number or information about it, we specify the time of departure and arrival, numbers of check-in counters and boarding gates, information about the aircraft model and the location of seats in the cabin. Pop-up notifications will inform you about changes in the schedule; it is possible to set yourself reminders about flights.
The application allows you to view in real time the arrival and departure board of any airport, information on flight delays, a map of flights from the airport, terminal diagrams and an advanced weather forecast. You can also view data about the airline: flight schedule, flight maps, reference information.

The application is Russified and covers more than 3000 airports and hundreds of airlines around the world (including domestic ones). Some of the functions are available with the purchase of the paid version (cost - 299 rubles).

9. MiFlight: security check time calculator

MiFlight allows you to correctly calculate the time and not be late for your flight if the airport is overcrowded, but also not to arrive with a gigantic margin to check-in in three minutes and then hang around for hours while waiting for boarding. Enter the airport and departure terminal - and the application will tell you how long you will wait in the check-in queue and how long the screening will take. The built-in timer will help you calculate how long these procedures actually took you, and based on the data received, it will adjust the calculations for the passengers following you.

So far, the application covers a small number of airports, and there are few Russian ones among them. In addition, the accuracy of the data depends on the number of MiFlight users in a particular terminal. So in Russia the application is almost useless, but in European capitals it is functional. Price - 75 rubles. for unblocking all airports.

10. ANA Takeoff Mode: calm, only calm!

Let's wrap up the review with one more aerophobic app. However, unlike SkyGuru, ANA Takeoff helps not to realize the problem, but to distract from it. As a matter of fact, this is an unpretentious toy for a smartphone, where you need to control the ball, aiming it at objects and avoiding obstacles. The simplicity of the game is deceiving: according to the developers, it was invented with the participation of psychologists, and the meditative music in the background adjusts to the noise in the cockpit and increases the volume when the engines go into takeoff mode (therefore, it is better to play with headphones).

Having tested the game, we confirm: with its help, you can completely forget about the flight (as well as about work, an unfed cat, a pie in the oven and the world around you). Moreover, the "Pause" button is not provided in the game, so it leaves no chance to be distracted by panic, thoughts "AAAAA, we are going to fall !!!" and other manifestations of aerophobia. The application is free, but there is nothing to Russify in it: there is no text, only a ball and traps.

Have a nice flight!

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