Live Aircraft Tracking
Flight Radar – Live Flight Tracker & Aircraft Map
Track aircraft positions, flight paths and live air traffic around the world with our interactive flight radar map.
Move around the map and zoom in to explore aircraft positions and air traffic in different regions.
Live air traffic
Track aircraft with live flight radar
A flight radar provides a visual overview of aircraft currently moving through the skies. The interactive map above can be used to explore air traffic in different regions and follow aircraft as they travel between airports.
Flight tracking is useful for anyone who wants to understand where an aircraft is located, which direction it is travelling and how busy the surrounding airspace may be. Depending on the data available for a particular aircraft, a flight tracker may also display information such as altitude, speed, route, aircraft type, airline or flight identification.
The map can be used for both local and international flight tracking. Zoom in to inspect aircraft around a city or airport, or zoom out to get a broader view of air traffic across countries and regions.
Live flight radar is especially popular with aviation enthusiasts, travellers, people waiting for arriving passengers and anyone interested in watching real-time air traffic around the world.
Flight tracking explained
How does a flight tracker work?
Modern aircraft tracking systems combine different sources of aviation data to estimate and display the position of aircraft on a map. One important source is ADS-B, or Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast, a technology through which equipped aircraft transmit information about their position and movement.
Ground-based receivers can collect these signals and contribute them to flight-tracking networks. Other data sources and tracking methods may also be used depending on the aircraft, location and provider.
When enough information is available, the flight radar can display an aircraft as a moving symbol on the map. The displayed position and associated flight information may update as new data is received.
Aircraft position
See where tracked aircraft are located and follow their movement across the map.
Speed and altitude
Depending on the available data, a tracker may show how fast an aircraft is travelling and its current altitude.
Flight identity
Some flights can be associated with details such as a flight number, airline, callsign or aircraft type.
Aircraft information
What information can flight radar show?
The exact information shown for an aircraft depends on the data available to the map provider. Some aircraft may have detailed flight information, while others may show only limited tracking data.
Common flight-tracking information can include the aircraft’s current position, direction of travel, altitude and speed. In some cases, the map may also provide information about the departure airport, destination airport, airline or aircraft model.
Altitude
Altitude shows how high an aircraft is flying. During a normal flight, an aircraft will typically climb after departure, remain at a cruising altitude for much of the journey and then descend as it approaches the destination.
Ground speed
Ground speed describes how quickly an aircraft is moving relative to the ground. It can vary significantly during departure, cruising and approach.
Direction and heading
The aircraft symbol and available tracking information can help show the general direction in which a flight is travelling. This makes it easier to follow the aircraft along its route.
Aircraft and flight identification
Where available, a flight tracker may display identifiers that help distinguish one aircraft from another. These can include a flight number, callsign, registration or aircraft type.
Using the map
How to track a flight on the live map
Start by moving the flight map to the region you are interested in. If you know the general location of an airport or city, zoom into that area to see aircraft operating nearby.
When the map allows aircraft selection, clicking or tapping an aircraft may provide additional details about that particular flight. The amount of information available varies by aircraft and tracking coverage.
1. Choose a region
Move the map to a country, city or airport area where you want to view air traffic.
2. Zoom in
Use the map controls to separate individual aircraft and inspect local flight activity.
3. Select an aircraft
Where supported, select an aircraft to view additional tracking information.
For another dedicated flight-tracking resource in German, you can also visit Aeroplano.de Flugradar.
From departure to arrival
Follow flight routes and aircraft movements
Flight radar makes it possible to visually follow aircraft as they travel between departure and destination regions. Instead of seeing only a scheduled departure or arrival time, the map provides geographical context for the flight.
A flight path may not always appear as a perfectly straight line between two airports. Aircraft routes are influenced by air traffic procedures, controlled airspace, weather conditions, operational requirements and instructions from air traffic control.
During departure, aircraft may follow specific routes designed to organize traffic around busy airports. Similar procedures are used during arrival and approach. This is one reason why aircraft on a flight map can sometimes appear to turn away from a direct path before continuing toward their destination.
Tracking a route visually can be particularly useful when waiting for an arriving passenger. Instead of relying solely on scheduled times, you can see whether the aircraft appears to be approaching its destination, still cruising or has not yet reached the local area.
Understanding tracking data
How accurate is live flight radar?
Flight tracking can provide a very useful overview of aircraft movements, but it should not be treated as a guaranteed source of exact operational information.
Tracking coverage depends on factors such as aircraft equipment, receiver coverage, data availability and the tracking methods used by the provider. Some regions may have excellent coverage, while others may show fewer aircraft or less frequent updates.
There can also be a delay between the aircraft’s actual position and the position displayed on a public flight map. The size of any delay depends on the data source, processing and network conditions.
Not every aircraft will necessarily appear. Military aircraft, government aircraft, private aircraft and other flights may have limited or unavailable public tracking data.
For official departure times, arrival times, gate information or operational flight status, always check the airline or airport directly.
Who uses flight tracking?
When is a live flight tracker useful?
A live aircraft tracker has many practical and recreational uses. It can provide a simple way to understand what is happening in the sky without needing specialist aviation equipment.
Meeting passengers
Follow an arriving aircraft to get additional context before travelling to the airport.
Aviation enthusiasts
Explore aircraft movements, routes and air traffic around airports and across regions.
Travel planning
Use flight tracking alongside airline and airport information when following a journey.
Aircraft spotting
A flight map can help identify aircraft approaching or departing nearby airports.
Learning about aviation
Observe how aircraft move through controlled airspace and follow common route patterns.
General curiosity
Identify aircraft you see overhead and explore how busy the skies are around your location.
Air traffic
Understanding aircraft activity on the map
Large airports and major aviation corridors can display a high concentration of aircraft. At busy times, dozens of aircraft may be climbing, descending or passing through the same broad region while maintaining safe separation.
Aircraft flying at different altitudes can appear close together on a two-dimensional map even though they are separated vertically. A flight radar therefore provides a useful visual overview, but the map alone does not show the full complexity of air traffic management.
International air traffic also changes throughout the day as departures and arrivals follow different regional time zones. Long-haul traffic may cross oceans and continents, while shorter flights create dense networks between major cities.
Weather can also influence aircraft movements. Thunderstorms, strong winds and other conditions may result in altered routes or changes to normal traffic patterns. You can explore current weather separately on our Weather Radar.
Questions
Flight radar FAQ
What is a flight radar?
A flight radar is an interactive map that displays tracked aircraft positions and can provide information about aircraft movements and flights.
Can I track flights in real time?
Flight-tracking services provide live or near-real-time aircraft data. Updates and delays depend on the data sources and tracking coverage available.
Can I track any aircraft?
No. Public tracking availability varies. Some aircraft may not appear or may provide only limited information depending on equipment, coverage and data restrictions.
What information can I see about an aircraft?
Depending on availability, tracking information can include position, altitude, speed, direction, callsign, flight number, airline or aircraft type.
Why does an aircraft disappear from the map?
An aircraft may temporarily disappear when tracking coverage is limited, data transmission is unavailable or the provider does not have sufficient information to display it.
Does flight radar show exact arrival times?
A flight tracker can provide useful context about an aircraft’s position, but official arrival times and operational updates should be checked with the airline or airport.
Why do aircraft not always fly in a straight line?
Aircraft routes are influenced by controlled airspace, air traffic procedures, weather, operational requirements and instructions from air traffic control.
Can flight radar help identify an aircraft overhead?
Often yes. If the aircraft is being tracked publicly, you can inspect nearby aircraft on the map and compare their position and direction with what you see in the sky.
Is flight radar an official air traffic control system?
No. Public flight-tracking maps are informational services and are not a substitute for official air traffic control, airline or airport systems.