Matt Thurber, editor-in-chief at AIN Media Group, has been flying since 1975 and writing about aviation since 1978 and now has the best job in the world, running editorial operations for Aviation International News, Business Jet Traveler, and FutureFlight.aero. In addition to working as an A&amp;P mechanic on everything from Piper Cubs to turboprops, Matt taught flying at his father’s flight school in Plymouth, Mass., in the early 1980s, flew for an aircraft owner/pilot, and for two summer seasons hunted swordfish near the George’s Banks off the East Coast from a Piper Super Cub. An ATP certificated fixed-wing pilot and CFII and commercial helicopter pilot, Matt is type-rated in the Citation 500 and Gulfstream V/550. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Matt and his team cover the entire aviation scene including business aircraft, helicopters, avionics, safety, manufacturing, charter, fractionals, technology, air transport, advanced air mobility, defense, and other subjects of interest to AIN, BJT, and FutureFlight readers.

Editor-in-Chief

Matt Thurber

FlightAware built its business by offering flight-tracking services all over the world, starting in the U.S., but it had to modify its approach when it came to serving customers based in Europe, where data privacy rules are much stricter.

 


“In most respects the technology and level of service we’re providing is the same in Europe,” said FlightAware CEO Daniel Baker, “but there is a different understanding of it.”

 


In the U.S. the FAA is required to share its data feed from radar services and ADS-B with the public and with entities that wish to publish that data on their own websites. Blocking of registration numbers is available via request to the FAA, although no one can block data captured by a privately owned ADS-B receiver. However, data providers such as FlightAware are required as a condition of using FAA data to honor blocking requests.

 


“In Europe,” Baker explained, “although ADS-B is present and we have a network there, data from Eurocontrol is private by default.” To see Eurocontrol data, a user must sign up with a service provider such as FlightAware, but not all such providers are able to deliver more than just the aircraft position. FlightAware can also offer information about the aircraft’s departure and destination points, which is helpful for FBOs and handling providers that want to serve their own customers.

 


FlightAware (Booth L97) gets its information from air navigation service providers (ANSPs) in more than 45 countries, many in Europe, plus from its own network of ADS-B receivers deployed by people who sign up to provide data to FlightAware. This ADS-B network includes more than 20,000 stations in almost every country, according to Baker. Other data sources include space-based ADS-B information provided by Aireon (FlightAware is an Aireon partner) as well as the FAA data feed. “We’re the only ones taking this data and fusing it and providing it as a service,” Baker said.

 


FlightAware began signing up European customers about seven years ago, and at EBACE, the FlightAware team is explaining that its full range of services is available in Europe. “We try to educate customers,” he said. “But it comes as a great surprise that FlightAware has the same service in Europe as the U.S. Most operators would benefit from having additional data.” 
 
	Because of European privacy laws, customers signing up for FlightAware’s flight-tracking services must “have some operational interest or involvement,” Baker said. A customer “can designate who they want to have access to data. [The authorities] want to prevent abuses of data and sales or marketing to aircraft operators.” Even in the U.S., customers who have requested blocking can share information on their aircrafts’ flights with select users.&nbsp;

 


In a new partnership with Signature Flight Support, operators can select their destination Signature FBO before departure or even during flight (when Wi-Fi equipped), and the FBO will get notified of that flight’s arrival time. If that aircraft is blocked, the FBO can still track the aircraft, but only for the final flight leg to the destination airport so FBO personnel can prepare for the arrival.

 


Now that more aircraft are ADS-B Out equipped, FlightAware’s Ready to Taxi service is becoming more useful, and the company is demonstrating the service for the first time in Europe at EBACE. Launched in October 2018, Ready to Taxi begins working when the avionics power on, including when the aircraft is plugged in to ground power, giving the customer real-time information as to when the aircraft starts taxiing, then after landing, taxis to the ramp and parks. “We can track aircraft on the ground at more 2,000 airports around the world,” he said.

 


One of the fruits of the Aireon and FlightAware partnership is the GlobalBeacon worldwide tracking service, which meets the ICAO Global Aeronautical Distress Safety System tracking requirements. In addition to using Aireon’s ADS-B information for its customers, FlightAware also works with companies such as Collins Aerospace’s ArincDirect, which licenses flight-tracking information from FlightAware.&nbsp;

 


Another interesting FlightAware service is its Cockpit Situational Insights service, which stores avionics information for postflight analysis. This can include true airspeed, heading, altitude preselect settings, nav modes, etc. “We can do this globally,” Baker said, “but without putting additional hardware on the airplane and without having to use an iPad [to capture data].”

 


FlightAware has about 10,000 business aviation aircraft signed up and serves 100 airlines. Prices for a typical super-midsize jet in Europe including global flight tracking, Ready to Taxi, and Aireon space-based ADS-B range from $1,000 to $2,000 per year per aircraft.&nbsp;

New developments and products in avionics, specifically about aircraft electronics in the cockpit.

FlightAware Highlights Flight-tracking in Europe

There are many benefits available to Europe-based flight-tracking customers, according to FlightAware.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

Power lines can be nearly impossible to see with the naked eye.

Obstacle Detection Tech Helps Helicopter Pilots Avoid Power Lines

Jessica Reed

News and developments about everything that goes into the cabin of an aircraft, from floor coverings to headliners, with a special emphasis on in-flight entertainment, communications and other electronics for passengers. If it is in the cabin of an aircraft, it’s covered here.

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Company unveiled the LT-4250 series two-panel LED suite and the LT-4441 All-In-One LED suite

Luma Tech Launches LED Solutions for Cessna Conquests

MRO installed Universal Avionics’ InSight flight display system in trijet

Flight Deck Overhaul Adds Modern Tech to Falcon 900

News and information about crew, passenger, aircraft and airport security issues.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Jamming and spoofing are compromising GNSS capabilities 

FCC Exploring Alternatives To Mitigate GPS Interference

The moving map solution, announced at AEA, was developed in partnership with FlightPath3D

Astronics Launches SkyShow Server with FlightPath3D

Carbon monoxide detector mounts remotely and works with Garmin avionics

Garmin Adds CO Detector, Updates GTR 205 Radios

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

EBACE 2019

More In Avionics

Obstacle Detection Tech Helps Helicopter Pilots Avoid Power Lines

Power lines can be nearly impossible to see with the naked eye.

Luma Tech Launches LED Solutions for Cessna Conquests

Company unveiled the LT-4250 series two-panel LED suite and the LT-4441 All-In-One LED suite

Flight Deck Overhaul Adds Modern Tech to Falcon 900

MRO installed Universal Avionics’ InSight flight display system in trijet

FCC Exploring Alternatives To Mitigate GPS Interference

Jamming and spoofing are compromising GNSS capabilities

Astronics Launches SkyShow Server with FlightPath3D

The moving map solution, announced at AEA, was developed in partnership with FlightPath3D

Garmin Adds CO Detector, Updates GTR 205 Radios

Carbon monoxide detector mounts remotely and works with Garmin avionics

Aspen Avionics Showcases Engine Monitoring Integration

New feature uses a split-screen approach for the Evolution multifunction display

IS&S Standby Instrument Replaces Legacy Systems

3ATI Prodigy ISU has built-in inertial measurement unit

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN