Flightradar24 & co.: live maps at a glance

Reading the AIP aerodrome chart: runways, taxiways, stands and holding points

The aerodrome chart from the aeronautical information publication is the most accurate public map of an airport. Here is how to read runways, taxiways, stands, holding points and hot spots – and turn them into spotter knowledge.

Using AirNav RadarBox: features, filters and how it differs from other trackers

RadarBox has been called AirNav Radar since late 2024 – the features have stayed. How to use the map, flight card, filters, notifications and playback while spotting, and how the service differs from Flightradar24, FlightAware and ADS-B Exchange.

Unfiltered community trackers compared: adsb.fi, adsb.lol, airplanes.live

Three maps, one technology, different philosophies: what adsb.fi, adsb.lol and airplanes.live have in common, how they differ in data, API and license, and which map suits which spotting purpose.

FlightConnections and route maps: which airline flies which route?

Route maps show which airlines serve a route, with which aircraft type and how often. Here is how to get spotting knowledge out of FlightConnections – and how to recognize the limits of schedule data.

Live airport webcams: the best cameras and how to use them for spotting

Official airport webcams show the apron, taxiways and runways – often with a time delay. Which cameras exist, how to identify aircraft on them and how they make your spotting trip easier to plan.

Finding small airfields: gliding sites and ultralight fields on the map

Beyond the big airports there are hundreds of small airfields. Which map sources show them, how to recognize gliding sites and ultralight fields, and how to prepare your visit.

Flight tracker apps compared: Flightradar24, FlightAware, ADS-B Exchange and more

Every spotter has a favorite map – but which one fits which question? This comparison shows how Flightradar24, FlightAware, ADS-B Exchange and other services differ in data, filters and feeder perks.

Airspace C, D, E, G and control zones: how to spot them on charts

Control zone, E floor, RMZ and Class C: if you can read airspace structure on charts, you understand why aircraft fly where they fly – and find better spots.

Reading NOTAMs as a spotter: spotting runway closures, flight restrictions and air shows

NOTAMs are aviation’s short notices. If you can read them, you know before everyone else when a runway is closed, a restricted area becomes active or a flying display is coming up. Structure, codes and abbreviations explained step by step.

openAIP for spotters: use airfields, airspaces and frequencies for free

openAIP is a free, worldwide aviation database. What’s in it, how to use the map, exports and API, what the license allows and where the limits are for spotters.

OpenSky Network explained: open flight data for spotters and research

OpenSky isn’t just another flight tracker but a nonprofit research network with a huge ADS-B archive. What the map, API, datasets and feeder bonus offer spotters – and where the limits are.

OpenStreetMap for spotters: find taxiways, aprons, paths and parking

At many airports, OpenStreetMap knows every taxiway name, every parking stand and every dirt track along the fence. How to read the data, query it precisely and spot where the free map reaches its limits.

Plane Finder at a glance: map, AR view, subscription and feeder

Plane Finder is one of the oldest flight tracking apps around. How to use the map, labels, filters, alerts, playback and AR and 3D mode when spotting – and how the Premium subscription and feeder program work with the Plane Finder Client.

Scouting airports in advance: Google Maps, Google Earth and Street View for spotters

Before you head to an unfamiliar airport, you can walk it on screen: runway layout in satellite imagery, heights and sightlines in Google Earth, fence and access road in Street View. Here is the scouting process step by step.

SID and STAR: understanding departure and arrival routes and finding them on charts

SIDs lead aircraft into the route network after takeoff, STARs bring them back to the airport. Naming logic, chart sources and what the routes mean for your choice of spot.

SkyVector: using aviation charts online, even without a pilot’s license

SkyVector shows aviation charts right in your browser. Which charts there are, what the airport pages reveal, where the limits lie outside the US and how to put the tool to good use as a spotter.

How to read the ICAO 1:500,000 chart: symbols, airfields and control zones for beginners

The ICAO 1:500,000 chart is the standard chart for visual flight in Germany. Here you learn how to read the scale, altitudes, airfields, control zones and airspace boundaries – and what you as a spotter can make of them.

Setting up Virtual Radar Server: your own radar display on Windows

Virtual Radar Server turns the data from your ADS-B receiver into your own radar map in the browser. Installation, receivers, merged feeds, database, filters and sharing, step by step.

Aircraft noise portals and WebTrak: using flight tracks as a spotter’s tool

Airports publish flight tracks and noise readings for residents. For spotters these portals are an underrated tool: they show real routes, altitudes and runway use – with a delay, but from radar data.

Windy & co. for spotters: forecasting wind, clouds and runway direction

Weather maps like Windy show you days ahead which direction the wind blows from at the airport and whether the sun will come through. How to read wind arrows, cloud layers and model comparisons correctly and turn them into a spot plan.