Real Time Flight Tracking Techniques

A television channel recently reported that at any given point of time during the day, an estimated 260,000 people are airborne worldwide. That is a phenomenally large number and it pretty much illustrates the gigantic magnitude of the global aviation industry. In such a crisscross maze of simultaneously flying aircraft, it is absolutely crucial for each airline to keep track of all its aircraft, their locations, trajectories and safety. However, implementing this activity once a day is not the answer.

A large volume of air traffic, coupled with sensitive and frequently changing weather conditions, makes it necessary to have a continuous, 24-hour, real-time tracking and monitoring system in place. For this purpose, each airline has a special team, that is exclusively designated the task of tracking its aircraft. Also, in recent times, almost all the airline carriers around the world have begun offering live i.e. real-time flight tracking services. Here are some of the techniques on which most of the flight tracking systems are based.

Radar-based Flight Tracking

This is the conventional technique of aircraft tracking that is currently being used all over the world. Sometimes, it is also referred to, as ground-based tracking or radio frequency tracking. As the name suggests, this technique is based on the principle of radar, which uses radio waves for the purpose of tracking and communication. Air Traffic Control (ATC) towers or ground-based stations, emit radio waves at a designated radio frequency. These radio waves bounce off the aircraft and return to base. The time period between the emission and the reception of the radio waves is used to calculate the distance of the airplane from the ATC tower. However, this tracking technique is not flawless by any stretch of imagination. Heavy mountainous terrain, large expanses of ocean, deep forest terrain and certain other hidden spots are examples of places, where this tracking technique has been found wanting.

Flight Tracking using Google Earth

Google Earth is a revolutionary concept, using which, numerous software applications have been designed, one of which happens to be a real-time flight tracking system. This application makes use of the 3D visuals of the Earth, which are generated by Google Earth, in conjunction with other position-mapping algorithms to ultimately present a visual representation of the flight location, flight path, etc. It also provides additional flight data such as flight origin, destination, departure time, estimated arrival time, altitude, speed, etc.

Satellite-based Flight Tracking

As is the case with traditional flight tracking systems, satellite-based tracking also involves the measuring of time-space-position data, related to the aircraft. However, what is unique in its case is the fact that all these activities are performed by satellites and not by ground-based locations. Consequently, satellite flight tracking eliminates quite a few shortcomings which otherwise, are prevalent in other tracking techniques. It involves the use of satellite transmitters, receivers, decoders, two-way communication antennas and microprocessors, all of which work in synchronization with the satellite stations. It also involves the use of detailed graphic images, contour analysis, etc. which results in accurate tracking of the flights.

Internet-based Flight Tracking

Google Earth has been an inspiration to several other websites, which now offer real-time flight tracking services over the Internet. All that one has to do is simply enter the relevant flight details on the user interface of the website, and within a few seconds, the website displays a virtual path of the aircraft along with all the relevant tracking and monitoring data. One can sit back and enjoy the virtual experience of following the aircraft's flight path, as it heads towards its destination.

Stereo Laser Tracking

This is a relatively new tracking technique, which employs stereo imaging methods in conjunction with laser beam tracking. Although, it is in an experimental and testing stage at present, experts suggest that it could prove to be a reliable flight tracking technique in the near future.

Aviation industry analysts are of the opinion that satellite-based tracking in collaboration with global positioning system (GPS) will become one of the most advanced, accurate and reliable flight tracking techniques in the days to come. Frequently changing atmospheric conditions, turbulence and diverse flying conditions, make real-time flight tracking an absolutely crucial aspect of aviation.