Flightradar24 is an online service that allows you to follow the movement of aircraft in real time in the whole world. Its operation is based on data gathering from different sources to provide accurate information on position, speed, altitude and other parameters of aircraft in flight.
One of the main elements of Flightradar24 is the Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) receiver. ADS-B is an on-board system in most modern aircraft that periodically transmits flight status data including GPS position, speed, altitude, aircraft identification and other relevant information. These signals are broadcast continuously and picked up by receivers on the ground.
Flightradar24 uses a worldwide network of ADS-B receivers, some of which are deployed by the company itself and others are provided by aviation enthusiasts. These receivers receive ADS-B signals from nearby aircraft and send the collected data back to Flightradar24’s servers via the Internet.
Once the data is received by the servers, Flightradar24’s processing system processes it to identify each aircraft and determine its position in real time. This information is then displayed on the interactive map of the website or mobile app, allowing users to track aircraft in flight around the world.
Besides ADS-B, Flightradar24 also uses other data sources to complement its flight tracking. This includes ATC (air traffic control) data for areas where ADS-B is not yet widely deployed, satellite positioning data for remote areas and flights at altitude, as well as data provided by the airlines themselves.
It is important to note that Flightradar24 primarily tracks commercial and private flights that are equipped with ADS-B transponders or are covered by other data sources. Some military and government aircraft, as well as some special flights, are not always visible on the platform for security and privacy reasons.
In conclusion, Flightradar24 works by collecting ADS-B data from aircraft equipped with appropriate transponders, as well as other data sources, through a worldwide network of receivers. This information is then processed and displayed on an interactive map, allowing aviation enthusiasts, travelers and anyone interested to track aircraft in real time anywhere in the world.
