1. Introduction: This article explores how to effectively track flights, highlighting various tools and resources.
2. Understanding Flight Tracking: Learn how flight tracking functions and the technology behind it.
3. Recommended Flight Tracker Apps and Websites: Discover the best platforms available for monitoring flights and their unique features.
Ever wondered how to track a flight? Here’s what you need to know, including nine flight tracker apps and websites to check out.
If you’ve ever looked up at a plane flying by and wondered where it’s coming from and where it’s going, it’s actually rather easy to find out. Thanks to flight tracking programs, all the information about any given flight is just a click (or tap) away. These days, many flight trackers provide real-time updates about a plane’s location, altitude, and speed. Consequently, they can be used to monitor nearly all commercial and cargo flights, as well as some private and military flights. So if you’re curious about where your inbound flight is, or if you’d like to track the arrival of someone you’re picking up at the airport, you can use a flight tracker to keep tabs on the plane.
How Does Flight Tracking Work?
Radar is technically still the global standard for tracking flights; however, it has many limitations—numerous areas lack radar coverage, especially over oceans. Today, flight tracking is shifting to a surveillance system known as Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast, or ADS-B. “Most aircraft today (and virtually all commercial aircraft) are now equipped with an ADS-B transponder which shares every second its detailed position, altitude, and speed parameters with other aircraft and with air traffic control. This is a more efficient system than the previous radar-dependent one,” explains Kathleen Bangs, a spokesperson for flight tracking company FlightAware. Companies that track flights can utilize global networks of ADS-B receivers to determine the positions of flights all around the world.
How to Track a Flight
While the specifics vary depending on your tracker of choice, generally speaking, you can input any flight number into a flight tracking app or website and see all the key data about that flight, from its estimated time of arrival (ETA) to its altitude and ground speed. Some flight trackers are less sophisticated and might only provide limited information, such as departure and arrival times.
Best Flight Tracker Apps and Websites
FlightAware
FlightAware operates the world’s largest flight tracking and data platform. It receives data from a terrestrial network of over 35,000 ADS-B receivers in 195 countries, air traffic control systems in over 45 countries, and more. On both the desktop website and the mobile app, you can input specific flights to track or look at a global map to see nearby planes, with the added option of weather radar overlays.
Flightradar24
Flight tracking on Flightradar24 is powered by the largest independent network of ADS-B receivers in the world. Individuals apply to host an ADS-B receiver, allowing for thousands of aircraft to be tracked daily. The app includes a fun AR feature that tags planes with details like flight numbers and destinations when using your camera.
Plane Finder
Plane Finder offers a global map of air traffic and a search function for specific flights using various parameters, including flight numbers and airports. It provides additional data points for airports and airlines.
RadarBox
RadarBox displays a real-time map of current flights and includes a ticker for the most-viewed flights, updated with real-time viewer stats. It also allows access to several air traffic control radios.
FlightView
FlightView allows easy tracking of flights by inputting flight numbers or travel details, featuring an airport delay map that shows the status of major airports around the country.
FlightStats
FlightStats focuses on tracking specific flights while also providing information on current airport conditions, including delays and weather forecasts.
Flighty
Flighty helps users keep a record of past flights, allowing them to track data such as miles flown. It is particularly useful for monitoring real-time changes, such as equipment and gate changes, and enables setting notifications easily.
Google Flight Tracker
Though not as advanced, Google’s flight tracker provides essential information like departure and arrival times. By searching for a flight number on Google, relevant details will appear in the search results.
Airline Apps
Flight tracking can also be done via airline apps, which typically have a Flight Status tool available on their websites. While each airline’s app has unique tracking features, they usually provide data on departure, arrival times, gate information, altitude, and a map of the plane’s location.
