How to Track Aircraft and How They Are Registered

Aircraft tracking and registration are fundamental aspects of aviation, serving operational and regulatory purposes. Whether you are an aviation enthusiast, a professional in the industry, or someone awaiting a flight, understanding how to track aircraft and how they are registered can provide valuable insights. This guide explains the tools and methods for tracking aircraft and delves into the aircraft registration process.

1. Tracking Aircraft: Real-Time Flight Monitoring

Aircraft tracking allows users to monitor flights in real time, providing details about flight paths, altitude, speed, and estimated arrival times. This is possible through technologies like ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast) and radar systems.

Key Tools for Tracking Aircraft:

• Flightradar24: A widely used platform that provides real-time tracking of flights worldwide. Users can search for flights by airline, flight number, or tail number.
• FlightAware: Offers flight tracking with comprehensive data, including flight history, delays, and weather conditions.
• Plane Finder: This tool provides a global view of aircraft in real time. Users can filter by airline, aircraft type, or altitude.
• ADS-B Exchange: A community-driven platform that tracks aircraft without filtering or restrictions, often used by aviation enthusiasts.

How Aircraft Transmit Location Data:

Aircraft transmit their location using several key technologies, primarily ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast), and secondary radar transponders. Here’s how they work:

ADS-B:

How It Works: Aircraft equipped with ADS-B systems determine their position using GPS and broadcast this data via VHF radio frequencies. The broadcasted data includes:

GPS-derived position (latitude and longitude)

Altitude

Ground speed and heading

Flight number and aircraft type

Receivers: Ground stations, satellites, and other aircraft equipped with ADS-B receivers collect this information.

Advantages: ADS-B provides high-precision, real-time tracking and is essential for modern air traffic management systems.

Radar Transponders:

How It Works: Secondary surveillance radar (SSR) systems use aircraft transponders to determine position. Air traffic control sends interrogation signals, and the aircraft responds with a code (e.g., Mode S), altitude, and other details.

Limitations: Radar systems have less coverage in remote or oceanic areas than ADS-B.

Satellite Communications:

• • In areas without ground-based receivers, satellites relay ADS-B signals to ensure global coverage. This is especially critical for flights over oceans and remote regions.

What Happens When Military Aircraft Fly?

Military aircraft often limit or disable the transmission of their location data for operational security and tactical reasons. Here are the key differences:

1. Mode of Operation: Military aircraft may operate in a mode called “Mode A/C” or without ADS-B transmissions to avoid being tracked by the public or adversaries.
2. Encryption: Military transponders often use encrypted signals or restricted-access systems to communicate with military ATC and other authorised entities.
3. Flight Tracking Platforms: Public platforms like Flightradar24 or ADS-B Exchange may show military aircraft as unidentified or not display them at all.
4. Exceptions: Some military flights, such as transport or humanitarian missions, may enable location broadcasting to coordinate with civil air traffic control and ensure safe operations.

These measures ensure that sensitive missions and tactical manoeuvres remain secure while allowing necessary coordination with civilian airspace systems.

Does This Include Drone Flights?

While traditional flight tracking platforms focus on human-crewed aircraft, drone flights are not typically included in the same systems. However, drones equipped with ADS-B or similar systems may appear on some platforms, mainly if they are operating in shared airspace with human-crewed aircraft. The tracking of drones is subject to local regulations, and most consumer drones are not required to transmit their location publicly. However, commercial drones operating in regulated airspace often use specialised systems to communicate with air traffic control or other aircraft to ensure safety.

Why Aircraft Transmit Location Data:

• Air Traffic Control (ATC): Enables safe and efficient airspace management by providing real-time location updates.
• Collision Avoidance: Ensures situational awareness between aircraft to prevent mid-air collisions.
• Transparency and Accessibility: The public and industry professionals can monitor flights in real time.
• Search and Rescue: Faciaircraft’sick identification of an aircraft’s last known position during emergencies.

How Aircraft Are Registered

Aircraft registration is a process that assigns an aircraft a unique identifier, establishes its nationality, and ensures compliance with international and national regulations. Every country must register with its aviation authority before it can operate legally.

Steps for Aircraft Registration:

1. Application Submission: The aircraft owner submits an application to the relevant aviation authority, such as the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) or the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
2. Provision of Documentation: The owner must provide supporting documents, including:
   • Proof of ownership
   • Aircraft specifications (type, manufacturer, serial number)
   • Airworthiness certification
3. Assignment of Registration Mark: The authority assigns a unique registration mark to the aircraft. This is often displayed on the tail or fuselage and includes a nation prefix (e.g., “G-” for the UK, “N-” for the US).
4. Issuance of Certificate: A Certificate of Registration is issued, confirming the aircraft’s legal status and compliance with regulations.

Purpose of Registration:

• Identification: Ensures each aircraft can be uniquely identified.
• Compliance: Verifies that the aircraft meets safety and operational standards.
• Liability and Ownership: Establishes legal ownership and accountability.
• National Affiliation: Links the aircraft to its country of registration, determining applicable laws and regulations.

Re-registration and De-registration:

Aircraft must be re-registered periodically or when ownership changes. De-registration occurs if an aircraft is sold to a new owner in another country or is retired from service.

3. Combining Aircraft Tracking and Registration Information

Tracking data can be combined with registration information to completely understand a specific aircraft. Many flight tracking platforms allow users to search by tail number to access details such as:

• Aircraft owner/operator
• Manufacturing details
• Flight history
• Maintenance status (if publicly available)

4. Mobile Apps for On-the-Go Tracking

Mobile apps provide convenient access to real-time flight data and aircraft information:

• Flightradar24 App: Offers live flight tracking and aircraft details.
• FlightAware App: Tracks flights and provides notifications for delays and arrivals.
• Plane Finder App: Displays real-time aircraft locations with filtering options.

Tips for Effective Aircraft Tracking:

• Enable Alerts: Many platforms allow users to set notifications for specific flights or aircraft.
• Use Filters: Narrow down searches by airline, flight, or tail number for faster results.
• Cross-Check Sources: If data seems inconsistent, consult multiple platforms for verification.

Aircraft tracking and registration are crucial in ensuring air travel’s safety, transparency, and efficiency. By leveraging modern tools and understanding the registration process, you can gain valuable insights into the aviation industry and stay informed about aircraft movements and operations. Start exploring these tools today to enhance your aviation knowledge and experience.