TransitSatellite trademark — Track, Predict, Explore

From orbit to the airways

Find a flight. Explore an airport.

Choose a starting point for flight information and discover the technology behind aircraft tracking. Our directory connects you to FlightAware’s tracking pages.

Find an airportOpen airport reference layerFind a flight on FlightAware (opens in a new tab)

The globe layer marks airport locations for reference. It does not show live aircraft positions.

Airport finder

Start on the Space Coast, or explore a U.S. hub.

Orlando, Melbourne, and Sanford connect this directory to Florida’s Space Coast. Other selected airports provide entry points to major U.S. flight networks.

Flight finder

Search by flight number

Enter the airline code with the flight number. TransitSatellite normalizes the identifier and opens the matching FlightAware tracking page in a new tab.

Don’t know the flight number?

Search by departure and arrival city or airport using FlightAware’s route finder.

Search by route

Looking for an airport?

Use the TransitSatellite airport directory for airport-specific tracking guides.

Browse airports

Search our curated directory of 21 U.S. airports by name, city, state, IATA code, or ICAO code. Each airport now has its own TransitSatellite guide page.

21 airports found

Aviation learning guides

Understand what the tracker is actually showing.

Learn the technology and identifiers behind flight tracking without needing a paid live-data feed.

Browse airport directoryFlight tracker glossary

Aviation fundamentals

How Flight Tracking Works

Learn how GPS, ADS-B, ground receivers, radar, and flight-status systems combine to create the flight-tracking experience people see online.

Read guide

Aircraft surveillance

What Is ADS-B?

Understand ADS-B Out, ADS-B In, GPS-derived aircraft position reports, and why ADS-B matters to modern aircraft tracking.

Read guide

Tracking technology

ADS-B vs Radar: What Is the Difference?

Compare ADS-B and radar, including how each system determines aircraft position, update timing, coverage, and why trackers may combine multiple sources.

Read guide

Airport identifiers

IATA vs ICAO Airport Codes

Learn why airports can have both a three-letter IATA code and a four-letter ICAO location indicator, and where each system is commonly used.

Read guide

Tracker questions

Why Does an Aircraft Disappear From a Flight Tracker?

Learn why aircraft markers can vanish or stop updating on public flight trackers, from receiver coverage and altitude to filtering and provider policies.

Read guide

Aircraft identifiers

What Is an Aircraft Squawk Code?

Understand Mode A transponder squawk codes, how they relate to aircraft surveillance, and why they are different from a flight number or tail number.

Read guide

Aircraft identifiers

Flight Number vs Tail Number

Learn the difference between an airline flight number, aircraft registration or tail number, callsign, and ICAO aircraft address.

Read guide

Tracker readouts

Aircraft Heading vs Track

Understand why an aircraft’s heading can differ from its ground track and why flight trackers often show the direction of movement over the ground.

Read guide

Tracker readouts

Ground Speed vs Airspeed

Learn why ground speed on a flight tracker can differ from the aircraft’s airspeed and how wind changes the relationship between them.

Read guide

Tracker readouts

Altitude vs Flight Level

Learn why flight trackers may show altitude in feet while pilots and air traffic control also use flight levels at higher altitudes.

Read guide

Ask the right tracking question.

Where is an aircraft?

A position report can describe where an aircraft was observed, together with information such as altitude and speed. Read the report time and the provider’s coverage notes.

When will a flight arrive?

Arrival estimates, cancellations, gates, and schedules come from flight-status information. A location on a map does not establish those details by itself.

How does tracking work?

ADS-B-equipped aircraft broadcast information, including position derived from satellite navigation. Receivers collect those broadcasts; coverage and public availability depend on the service.

Why can a plane be missing from a public tracker?

Reception, equipment, update delays, and the provider’s display policies can all affect what appears. A missing marker is not proof that there is no aircraft, and a last reported position is not a guarantee of its current location.

For a journey you are taking, check the airline’s latest instructions and airport information. Public tracking is useful context, while operational decisions belong with the responsible airline and aviation services.

The satellite connection

Satellite navigation helps an aircraft determine its position. ADS-B communicates that position. Following a satellite in orbit and following an aircraft are connected experiences, with different data sources.

How GPS tracking works Explore satellites

Tracking for your business

Work vehicles, trailers, and equipment need their own tracking devices and service. Explore the questions to ask about coverage, reporting, power, and subscriptions before choosing a provider.

Read the fleet tracking guide

Sources and tracking services

The FAA explains ADS-B technology, and FlightAware describes the position, schedule, and status information offered by its service. Directory links are ordinary external references; they do not imply a commercial partnership.