FlightsAboveMe: live overhead aircraft tracking
FlightsAboveMe is a live overhead flight display built for quick, glanceable aircraft tracking. Using publicly available ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast) signals and aviation data networks, the site estimates aircraft position, altitude, speed, and direction in near real time. The goal is a simple “what’s flying over me?” view you can open anywhere — including an always‑on Kiosk Mode you can run on a spare tablet or small monitor. Great kiosk spots: an office, workshop, living room, classroom, lobby, or break room.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is FlightsAboveMe real-time?
FlightsAboveMe uses ADS‑B broadcasts and aviation data feeds to estimate aircraft position in near real time. Depending on coverage and source latency, updates may be delayed.
Why are some flights missing?
Visibility depends on aircraft equipment, receiver coverage, altitude, and terrain. Some aircraft don’t broadcast full position data, and some flights may be filtered if messages are incomplete.
What is an ICAO24 code?
ICAO24 is the 6‑character hexadecimal identifier tied to an aircraft’s transponder. It’s a stable technical ID used to look up aircraft details even when callsigns change.
Why does the site sometimes show a demo location?
If browser location access is unavailable, FlightsAboveMe defaults to a demo location in Fayetteville, Arkansas (72704) so you can still see how the display works.
Understanding live flight data
FlightsAboveMe uses publicly available ADS‑B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast) signals to estimate aircraft position and movement. Modern aircraft broadcast identity, altitude, speed, and position data, which can be received by ground stations and aggregated into live tracking networks.
Data sources (in plain English)
- ADS‑B broadcasts from aircraft, received by community antennas
- Public aviation state‑vector feeds that combine and normalize live positions
- Aircraft detail lookups (when available) to show model/airline more clearly
For specifics and limitations, see Data Sources & Accuracy.
Regulatory note: In the United States, many aircraft operating in controlled airspace are required to transmit ADS‑B Out under FAA rules, but what you see here still depends on aircraft equipment, altitude, terrain, and receiver coverage.
Coverage depends on aircraft equipment and receiver density in a given region. Some flights may not appear, and data may occasionally be delayed or incomplete.
Aircraft identifiers such as ICAO24 codes and callsigns are technical aviation identifiers used by air traffic systems. Altitude is typically reported as barometric altitude, and vertical speed indicates whether an aircraft is climbing, descending, or cruising.
FlightsAboveMe is provided for informational and educational purposes only and should not be used for navigation or operational decisions.