FlightAware

Infobox_Company
company_
company_name = FlightAware
company_type = Private
foundation = 2005, Houston, Texas
location = Houston, Texas
key_people = Daniel Baker, CEO
Karl Lehenbauer, CTO
David McNett, CIO
industry = Aviation
homepage = [http://flightaware.com/ flightaware.com]

FlightAware is an aviation software and data services company. Based in Houston, Texas, it is best known for the "flightaware.com" web site, the first to offer free flight tracking of both private and commercial aircraft in the United States. It makes use of the Aircraft Situation Display to Industry datastream.

FlightAware provides services and data primarily to aircraft and airport operators as well as other aviation organizations to assist in their operations.

Web site

Overview

The [http://flightaware.com/ FlightAware.com] web site provides free flight tracking of private and commercial flights as well as airport activity, flight and airport maps with weather, aviation statistics, and instrument flight rules procedures for .

According to the company it serves over half a million tracking requests per day as of|2006|March|alt=as of March 2006.cite pressrelease|url=http://flightaware.com/news/story/19|publisher=FlightAware|date=March 17, 2006|title=FlightAware Celebrates 1st Birthday|quote=FlightAware serves over half a million tracking requests per day. ... FlightAware has been mentioned in many national publications and broadcasts such as CNN, Fox News Channel, The Associated Press, USA Today, and countless references in regional & local media|accessdate=2008-09-27]

Live Flight Tracking

FlightAware has real-time information for most instrument flight rules flights in the United States and the web site allows users to search, organize, and view the information in many different ways. This information is particularly useful to airport operators and aircraft operators such as small airlines, charter companies, and pilots.

Users can enter an airport (by airport code or name) and see:
* A list of all aircraft inbound, outbound, or scheduled to be inbound/outbound
* A map of the area with radar weather overlay
* A graph of operations at that airport
* Links to airport information

Users can also search by airline flight number or the aircraft's registration if it is a non-commercial flight, or select a flight from an airport's status page. Information provided includes:
* Proposed departure and arrival times
* Actual departure and arrival times
* Proposed and actual altitude
* Proposed and actual airspeed
* Four month history of that flight or aircraft
* Time elapsed and time remaining
* Filed RouteA link is also provided that lists, minute by minute, the latitude and longitude, ground speed, and altitude at that moment.

Registration

Users are given the chance to register with the site for free, which opens up additional flight tracking resources, most notable the My FlightAware page. The My FlightAware page allows you to select up to five flights or tail numbers and three airports that you would like to monitor. For the planes, it shows you where the plane or flight is currently located, or 'Airborne' if it is currently in the air, along with its most recent flight and its next flight if it has filed a flight plan. For the airports, information provided is current meteorological conditions (VFR, IFR, etc.), along with the most recent arrival and departure.

Additionally, registration allows you to view older histories of planes and flights, and allows you to post on the site's discussion forum.

Resources

The web site also includes many aviation and pilot resources such as a page for every airport with location, runway information, airport utilization, and other information published by the FAA. FlightAware allows users to contribute additions and changes to a list of airport businesses (such as airport fuel facilities, flight schools, restaurants, etc). Pilots and other people familiar with an airport can update fuel prices, contact information, services available, and other information so that the latest information is available to anyone interested in what a particular airport has to offer.

Users can also download airport diagrams and IFR procedures called "approach plates" or "charts." The web site allows users to view individual procedures or to download all of the procedures for an airport. This information is updated by the FAA roughly every month.

Media attention

FlightAware is regarded by the media as an authority on aviation and breaking news stories; the company has been referenced, featured, or mentioned in the New York Times, Bloomberg, USA Today, CNN, Fox News Channel, Associated Press, Houston Chronicle, San Diego Union-Tribune, Tampa Tribune, ESPN The Magazine, Washington Post, Boston Globe, as well as many local newspapers and television news affiliates.Fact|date=August 2007

References

External links

* [http://flightaware.com FlightAware web site]