What FlightAware Is

FlightAware launched in 2006 and quickly made a name for itself with the FAA's SWIM feed. This feed provides critical information on US domestic flights. When combined with its network of ADS-B receivers, FlightAware offers the most accurate flight tracking available.

The site provides a wealth of information, including flight plans, delays, cancellations, and gate information. FlightAware's data is unparalleled in its detail.

In 2021, Collins Aerospace acquired FlightAware, and the company's focus shifted to serving enterprise clients. Despite this change, FlightAware remains a standalone brand.

One of the unique aspects of FlightAware is its PiAware program, which allows users to build their own ADS-B receivers. By contributing to the network, individuals can earn a free Personal subscription. This program encourages community involvement and invites users to participate in the FlightAware network.

What It's Good For

FlightAware excels at verifying US commercial flights. Need to confirm a specific flight's operation on a particular date? FlightAware's FAA integration provides data that ADS-B alone can't match. This includes gate delays, taxi times, and cancellation records.

You can do N-number lookups. Search any US tail number and get the aircraft's history, operator, registered owner, and full flight log. Airport arrival and departure boards are available. You can see every aircraft that arrived at or departed from a specific airport within a given time window, and establish who flew into a city on a particular date. The information includes

FlightAware provides route history. The complete route log for each flight is displayed, useful for pattern analysis. For example, you can determine if a corporate jet makes regular trips to a particular city. Delay and cancellation documentation is available, allowing you to verify that a flight was actually delayed or cancelled. Airport delay data is granular. FlightAware's API, FlightXML, is well-regarded for its good documentation quality and endpoint consistency, making it a favorite among developers.

Getting Started

To use FlightAware, head to flightaware.com and make a free account. The basic map and limited history are accessible without a subscription. Most investigative work requires at least the Personal tier.

To look up an aircraft, enter its N-number or registration in the search bar. The aircraft page shows its current position, recent flights, and details.

To review airport traffic, search for an airport by ICAO or IATA code. Use the Arrivals or Departures tab, adjust the date and time, and export or scroll through the list to find aircraft of interest.

To set up PiAware, get a Raspberry Pi ADS-B receiver, flash the PiAware SD card image, and connect the receiver to FlightAware. Once approved as a feeder, your account upgrades to the Personal tier automatically.

FlightAware vs. Flightradar24 for OSINT

Choosing Between FlightAware and Flightradar24

FlightAware and Flightradar24 are two platforms that track flights in real-time. You need to know which one works for you.

Consider coverage. Flightradar24 covers more countries, 190+, compared to FlightAware's 140+.

Update frequency is also important. FlightAware updates every 60 seconds, while Flightradar24 updates every 2-5 minutes.

Both platforms offer aircraft information, flight paths, and alerts.

Cost is a factor. Both have free tiers, but Flightradar24's is more limited.

The number of data sources used by each platform differs. Flightradar24 uses over 30,000 receivers, while FlightAware uses over 10,000.

You choose.

FlightAware leads when you're focused on the US and commercial flights. Airport records, delay data, it's all there. Flightradar24 takes the lead on private planes and international routes. It has a cleaner interface.

Pricing

Prices vary. Check FlightAware for the latest.

The Personal plan goes for $89.99/year. You get 6 months of history. That's a decent starting point.

The Professional plan costs $699/year. You get 5 years of history. A serious jump in cost for serious investigations.

Limitations

FlightAware Limitations

FlightAware has blind spots. Aircraft opted into LADD don't show up, same gap as Flightradar24. If a private jet isn't showing up, try ADSBExchange, the only major tracker that doesn't filter LADD aircraft.

International coverage lags Flightradar24. Outside the US, FlightAware relies on its own ADS-B receiver network. The PiAware community receiver program helps in parts of Europe and Australia. Flightradar24's larger network and satellite ADS-B supplement give it an edge.

The Professional tier is pricey for occasional use. You have to choose between a 6-month Personal tier and a 5-year Professional tier, no middle ground. Flightradar24 Gold costs ~$95/year for 365 days. Most investigations wrap up in less than a year.

Collins Aerospace owns FlightAware now. They focus on airline ops software and commercial data products. Investigative and OSINT use cases aren't a priority, the product roadmap shows it.

The API pricing isn't transparent. Contact sales for custom quotes above the self-serve developer tiers. Budget before you build.

Alternatives

Flight tracking services are available for OSINT through several providers.

Flightradar24 leads in international coverage, with private flights also showing up, and its UI is clean. Flightradar24 offers a 365-day history for $7.99/month, which is cheaper than FlightAware's Pro tier.

ADS-B Exchange fills gaps in coverage, particularly when FlightAware and Flightradar24 come up empty, often finding the aircraft. However, it has a rougher interface and limited historical data. ADS-B Exchange ignores LADD opt-outs, allowing users to see aircraft that others don't.

The OpenSky Network serves academics well, offering a free API to pull bulk data, with archives going back years. The focus here is on data export, not individual lookups, and there is no LADD filtering.

The FAA Aircraft Registry is not a tracker but rather a resource for digging up US aircraft ownership details. You won't always find owner information on FlightAware or Flightradar24, but registry.faa.gov has it.

When choosing a flight tracking service, consider the following: For international tracking and private aviation, choose Flightradar24. For tracking aircraft not visible on other trackers, choose ADS-B Exchange. For academic research and bulk data analysis, choose OpenSky Network. For US aircraft ownership research, choose the FAA Aircraft Registry.

The services provide the following: Flightradar24 provides international coverage, private flights, clean UI, and 365-day history for $7.99/month. ADS-B Exchange provides gap coverage, ignores LADD opt-outs. OpenSky Network provides free API, bulk data, archives years back, data export. FAA Aircraft Registry provides US aircraft ownership details.

Bottom Line

FlightAware's edge is its FAA data, making it the go-to for US domestic commercial flights. It offers airport arrival and departure boards and date filtering, allowing you to see who flew where on a specific date. FlightAware beats Flightradar24 for this use case.

For everything else, Flightradar24 Gold wins, offering private aircraft, international routes, and high-quality UI. It also provides cost-effective historical access. If you're focused on the US, consider running both services: Flightradar24 as primary and FlightAware for airport records or FAA-grade data.

When both services go dark on a tail number, ADS-B Exchange is your next stop.

Further Reading

• FlightAware official site
• FlightAware AeroAPI documentation