How Flight Radar works 24?

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did you ever wonder, how to watch live flights? I tell you that there are several systems around the world that allow you to see them in real time, but today we will talk specifically about one, Flight Radar 24 and its operation in Ecuador.

What is Flight Radar 24?

Flight Radar 24 is the world's leading flight tracking platform. This tool was born in the year 2006 only as a hobby of some Swedish friends who love aviation who wanted to create ADS-B equipment to see air traffic in real time in their country and northern and central Europe. For the year 2009, this project opened its code so that anyone with an ADS-B device can increase service coverage. Currently, more than 10.000 online devices worldwide, are the main providers of this service for free and even FR24 is used worldwide by several major airlines to track their planes anywhere in the world in real time.

What do planes look like in real time?

It's all thanks to the ADS-B system. Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B for its acronym in English) It is a system installed on aircraft., that emits information based on the aircraft's navigation systems, mainly from the aircraft's GPS satellite system (Global Positioning System) that automatically sends information where it is transmitted, position, height and speed to devices located on the ground and even to other aircraft one per second, in order to determine exactly where a certain plane is and its flight conditions to avoid possible collisions and even, optimize airspace.

I share an explanatory video of how this application works in its first part:

This is much more precise than current radar control systems and the project already exists, starting in the United States and followed by India, to replace current radar systems with ADS-B. Apart from being more accurate and reliable, also means lower costs and easier installation in many locations, for instance, moutains, than with current primary and secondary radar systems, they are limited (for instance, ADS-B receivers can be installed in the ocean). For this same reason and advantages, for him 1 of January of 2020, all aircraft flying in or to the United States, they must be equipped with ADS-B and this will be a kick for the rest of the countries to adopt this measure, that seeks to have better control of the airspace, making it even safer.

Current radar systems

Today, Radar systems send a signal every 1 a 3 seconds into the air and it "impacts" on the planes that fly nearby, thus generating a response bounce, that by system calculations allows air traffic controllers to know direction, aircraft height and speed, this is known as primary radar. There is another method and it is the most used in the world today., what is called secondary radar, it receives information sent by aircraft that have a “Transponder”, to which a different number is assigned for each aircraft, thus, ground control can identify each signal and know its height, position and speed. There are other forms or variants on these radars, but it is only a brief explanation and this topic could be expanded much more.

Flight Radar 24 in Ecuador

[flightradar lat=»-0.92″ lng=»-79.1″ zoom=»6″ width=»100%»]
Live Map of flights in Ecuador

The beginnings of coverage and monitoring of flights in real time in Ecuador was born at least 5 years ago, with the first device connected in Guayaquil, thanks to the initiative of Captain Byron Mina Jr. who connects an ADS-B device for the first time at home (It also had the only voice transmission service that has existed in Ecuador., LiveATC SEGU).

A few years later and with the growing interest in being able to see the flights in real time in Ecuadorian territory, by management of who writes you today, the first antenna was installed in Quito, of this they are already 4 years and thanks to the support of Fernando Bueno, They also have installed in Quito the systems of RadarBox24 and FlightAware, which daily transmit thousands of data on the flights that land or fly over Quito.

Subsequently, other volunteers were installing more receivers in Quito, Guayaquil and in other cities such as Cuenca, Manta, Ambato and Emeralds, achieving significant coverage in continental Ecuador, that allows you to see the large number of daily flights in the country.

• Currently, I find myself working thanks to the support of LATAM Ecuador, in the recovery of the Flight Radar service 24 in Baltra and San Cristobal.
• With Quito, Coca, San Cristobal, Baltra and the RadarBox and FlightAware radars have considerably improved coverage in the country.

Why don't all planes show up on Flight Radar? 24?

This is because not all aircraft are equipped with ADS-B.. For instance, in Tame's fleet, embraer planes 190, ATR42 and one or another Airbus are not visible permanently or constantly, while in the Avianca Ecuador fleet only the Airbus A319s that are ex-Mexicana de Aviación are not visible on radar and the LATAM Ecuador fleet is fully visible on radar at all times..

On some occasions, surely you have seen that more than one of Tame's planes, for example the ATR or some private plane, minor aviation or even the Ecuadorian Air Force, appear on the radar for short times and showing limited or erroneous information. This is due to the alternate radar system called MLAT (Multilateration), which consists of a series, of at least 4 receivers to be able to interpolate, by the time it takes to get the signal from the plane's transponder, to the different receivers on the ground, achieving like this, determine a position, estimated speed and height. The more nearby receptors are in the same region, the more accurate your information will be. For example Quito, is one of the best places for MLAT coverage in the region, since there are at least 6 devices currently running.

How many flights a day are there in Ecuador?

It's hard to know exactly, but we are talking about more than 600 flights, since you have to add private flights, aviation schools, fumigators and many others such as those of the FAE and Amazonian flights.

The video is a time-lapse I made of operations on a Friday in Ecuador, where at least 400 flights are tracked by different receivers located throughout the country, this without adding Galapagos that at that time was not available. For this number, each outbound or return flight over Ecuador is considered..

Follow flights online browser and app

exist 2 ways to view flights in real time with Flight Radar 24. The first, using your website www.flightradar24.com or using their App that can be downloaded for Android and iOS. Too, Flight Radar 24 offers paid versions of its services:

• Basic
• Silver
• Gold
• Business

Each version has its advantages, allowing, depending on the case, have more information about the plane, Flight information, statistics, not have advertising, advanced weather information and other benefits. You can check the costs HERE.

Do you live in the east or in other areas and want to contribute with coverage?

If for example you live in El Coca, Macas, Sour Lake, Catamayo or others contact me in order to increase coverage even more and in an area where there are currently no receivers in Ecuador.