Flight tracking apps have gotten smarter: they now inform you of delays and emergency situations in real time and even analyze the weather at your destination. The next time you're planning a long-awaited trip, install a couple of these.
It is impossible to list all existing trackers because there are so many of them. In fact, they all use the same technology for tracking and differ only in additional functionality.
FlightRadar24
In addition to standard functions such as searching and tracking flights in real time, the FlightRadar24 app also has more interesting ones. To determine which plane is flying over you, simply point the camera at the sky and you will be able to find out the plane number, departure and arrival locations.
If desired, your smartphone instantly turns into an airport board, for example, Domodedovo or Vnukovo with a schedule of all flights. With the help of the application, you can find out about emergency situations. Among the features of the program, we can highlight the identification of aircraft in the sky above the user and a 3D view from the cockpit.
You can filter flights by airline, track delays, get a list of all flights in the region, and even check the weather at your destination.
In the paid tariff for 2000 rubles per year (there is a 14-day trial period), you can track the history of the aircraft's flights over the past 365 days, find out its age and serial number. The paid tariff also allows you to find out the vertical speed (how quickly the aircraft takes off or descends), the SQUAWK code, the altitude by GPS. And, perhaps, one of the most amazing things is information about the air temperature outside directly from the aircraft.
Available for Android And iPhone.
FlightStats
FlightStats allows you to track any flight, its status (delayed, cancelled, etc.), learn about weather conditions at airports around the world, and determine the location of the aircraft in the air. For each flight, the flight path is displayed, superimposed on the map. If desired, more detailed information is displayed on the screen, which is very useful.
If you look at the second screenshot, you can see that there was some kind of bug in the service and the data was displayed incorrectly. I deliberately did not look for another flight, the correct one. So that you understand that there are such lags in this application.
If you use Siri Shortcuts, you'll love the ability to use shortcuts to track arrivals, departures, and route searches. With the FlightStats Today widget, you can even track your flight from your iPhone's lock screen. FlightStats also supports Apple Watch, so owners can track flights right from their watch.
Available for Android And iPhone.
App in the Air
App in the Air can be considered a must-have program for every traveler. The main task of the application is to create your own travel history. And App in the Air does this simply elegantly. And a recent update added the ability to track not only your flights, but also your friends.
You can subscribe to receive updated information about the route and location of the aircraft, meals, passenger seating arrangements, etc. A paid subscription opens the possibility of automatic check-in for the flight to select the best seat in the cabin.
The list can go on and on. App in the Air is more than just a flight tracker. It is a full-fledged personal assistant, the developers of which have tried to foresee all the important moments for a traveler.
Available for Android And iPhone.
FlightAware
FlightAware can safely be given a place in the middle of our list. Not only is it the “golden mean” in terms of features, but it is also a good starting point for beginners mastering flight trackers. You can get FlightAware for free, but it will show quite a lot of ads. If you want to get rid of annoying ads, you will need to pay about 200 rubles.
Features include flight tracking, alerts, information on connecting and canceled flights, and flight status change alerts. Maps are clear, informative, and have weather notification icons. The app has a good design with two color schemes. FlightAware looks more stylish than FlightRadar, but it is less functional.
Available for Android And iPhone.
ADSB Flight Tracker
The ADSB app uses the smartphone's GPS to track the plane's speed, altitude, and direction. Another interesting feature is a sensor that measures the distance and altitude between the plane and other objects.
Another interesting feature is the 3D mode, which includes more than a thousand civil and military aircraft, including Harrier, Chinook, Beluga and others. If you draw a 360-degree circle with your smartphone, you can track the aircraft in the designated circle. A real find for aviation enthusiasts!
Available for Android.
Flight Tracker
While The Flight Tracker doesn’t have many features, it has everything it needs to be a reliable assistant. You can set the app to track any flight along with detailed departure/arrival information. There’s gate and terminal information, weather, you can add notes to flights, and share flight data. The app automatically syncs with TripIt and your calendar.
Available for Android And iPhone.
Planes Live
Planes Live Free app gives you the opportunity to instantly receive all the latest flight information. Track the travel of your family members and close friends as if you were flying with them. The most detailed data is provided for each flight: aircraft characteristics, route, arrival airport information, etc.
The application is only available iPhone.