Re: Flight tracker.
 

[QUOTE=Domino;10757009]Dick, based on my experience with these things there is a time lag on the system, although they claim it is real time unless under FAA control when it is +5mins.
QUOTE]

Last night it was in real time!
We are six minutes from landing in Malaga, as I watched it cross us on the map it was going past us at the back of our house....six minutes later it landed.
I've used it before in the past to track where the plane is when we have been picking up from the airport, it's usually spot on.

Re: Flight tracker.
 

So spill the beans.
Which one is it ?

Re: Flight tracker.
 

Dick, hows about a conspiracy theory ?????

Meg is further down a flight path than I am, I catch them much earlier as they cross the Parapanda when on the N/S path so she will know better than most.
But is it that RYR and EZY switch the transponder off before landing, whilst others may keep on until landed ? This may effect their arrival times and their timekeeping records.
All the planes concerned have 2 engines for propulsion and a further jet APU at the base of the tailplane which provides all the power for operational systems, so it isn't a situation of them having landed and turning off all systems, the APU is integral with radar, radio and many other important things.

just a thought

Re: Flight tracker.
 

I tracked a little two engined Binter airline turboprop in last night, but the signal still cut out about a minute or so before landing.

It's like Piccadilly circus with the traffic above here at times.
Apart from the traffic coming in low to Valencia there seems to be a hi altitude flightpath crossroads as well. I can often have 4 or 5 on the tracker and see them all visually at the same time.

As they begin their approach I can hear the sound of their hydraulic motors howling just overhead as they set their slats and flaps for landing speed.

Re: Flight tracker.
 

Well I've tracked 6 or 7 different airlines into several different airports tonight and every single one stopped sending information one minute from touchdown at either 1150 or 1125 ft, then completely disappeared from the screen one minute later at touchdown, I presume.

I would guess it's about the same time they're handed over from approach frequency to tower frequency, though I doubt if that's the reason for losing the signal.

Re: Flight tracker.
 

That's really strange, I've tracked five today landing at Malaga and all of them were still sending information on landing, and they could be tracked onto the parking area too.

I wonder if where you are located makes a difference, after passing our house it's just six minutes to them landing.

Re: Flight tracker.
 

Shouldn't make any difference as the information is initially transmitted by satellite I presume and I've tracked into the local airport as well as others a good distance away with exactly the same result.

From what you say it could be the tracking system itself which is the difference, with mine possibly programmed to switch off at a certain point.

Which system/website are you using ?

I've been on the Flightradar24.com which Tommy posted at the start of the thread, but I believe there are several others.

Re: Flight tracker.
 

Ah success,
The very first one I tried tracking into Malaga and I followed it to landing and parking.
So it appears that the difference is something to do with the airports themselves.

Re: Flight tracker.
 

:eek:
THEY MUST BE LOW
:eek:

Re: Flight tracker.
 

Not quite so low as they were about 4 years ago before they extended the runway.
Don't hear it quite so much now.

Re: Flight tracker.
 

NO - The aircraft transponder is an interrogated device activated by the radar - in military terms it is an IFF - Identify Friend or Foe. Military aircraft do not usually have the transponder turned on but can be instructed by their controller to "squawk" once - just the same as "One Ping Vassilly".

the actual operation is described very well at http://www.public-action.com/911/transpon/
So it could be the differences in the radar systems around the world that allow you track movement on the ground in Hong Kong but not in Malaga.

Back in the 60's & 70's UK aircraft carriers had a 984 radar system linked to a computer that did allsorts of things, including automatically identifying a radar contact as Foe. Marvellous system but too expensive for commercial use but some aspects of it were incorporated into the more modern Aegis system.

but at least you are now getting some good movements, although you may find that changes as Malaga gets busy.

Re: Flight tracker.
 

All very interesting but a little too complex for me to get my head around it all.

Anyway, without satellite assistance tell me how these ground radar systems can track and get info.and feedback when aircraft are way out in the middle of the ocean thousands of kms from land and even at six miles up are still well out of sight of ground radar installations I would have thought ?

I don't know if it's still the case but they all used to keep checking in on single sideband radio at one time, not the best mode of transmission but at least it could link up with ground stations well out of line of sight.

Having a Ham Licence I often used to chat with the US pilots on ssb crossing the pond or further South as they had little else to do to pass away the time over mid-Atlantic.

Whilst it was legal for them do so it was strictly a no no for UK aircraft.

Re: Flight tracker.
 

We know where to go for stand-in air traffic controllers if the French get uppity again.

:)

Re: Flight tracker.
 

Providing you're not too fussy about your final destination, of course.


I mean you could set out for a week of sunshine on the Med only to find yourself spending the first night in an Eskimos igloo. :ohmy:

Re: Flight tracker.
 

There used to be a game on the old Amstad word processor which allowed you to land aircraft at Heathrow, put them into a holding pattern, make them abort the landing and go around, declare emergencies, etc.

Anyone know if it's still around ?