Explore aircraft signals on an ADS-B flight tracker.
Airplane Mode turns available live aircraft telemetry into map markers with identity, altitude, speed and direction when those fields are reported.
What ADS-B contributes
Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast allows equipped aircraft to broadcast information such as identity and position. Public tracking coverage depends on equipment, reception and the data made available to the service.
From signal to marker
The Airplane Mode gateway normalizes incoming fields before the frontend renders them. The map never invents a route or identity when the source data does not provide one.
Use freshness as context
A live tracker is a sequence of reported positions, not a continuous view from the aircraft. Check the update age before relying on a marker’s exact location and never use this public map for navigation.
What to know before opening the radar
Is ADS-B coverage global and complete?+
No. Coverage varies by location, receiver availability, aircraft equipment and data access.
Is Airplane Mode an air traffic control system?+
No. It is a public information and research interface, not an operational safety tool.
Official references
Locations and aircraft capabilities can change. These primary sources support the basing, capability and public-tracking explanations used in this guide.