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Latest File Updates

by | Aug 7, 2024 | Aviation News, Database, Online Logging, Spotting

August Update

Well the downloads page has been updated, all four of the downloadable files are now dated the 6th of August 2024 – providein a total of just over 730,000 records available for download. As normal the down load files are provided in a Comma Separated Valuses file, this can be loaded into any application capable of supporting the format – a good place to start are any of the spread sheet applications.

Over the next couple of weeks I intend to add a couple of files, these will be aditional to the existing Austalian and Canadian registers – where I intend to add the deregistered aircraft as far back as I can. Along with composite files covering surviving WWII aircraft, but these will take some time to create – it may be that I create some files of individual types first.

As usual the rules on the use of the data are free to use for personal use, but a mention of a donation would be nice if you’re going to post on your own site.

 

Support this site.

It does take some time and effort to create these downloads, also there are a number of costs associated with running the site. So if you can consider supporting this site with a donation it would be helpful, if you find the site useful then why not treat me to a doughnut – or even a doughnut and a coffee if you’re feeling really flush.

But regardless of whether you donate or not, I hope that the contents of the files are of some use, also bear in mind that the files are as dated in the bar graph on the down load page – I will try and produce a new data set every month or more frequently if time allows.

Please note these files are provided for personal use, if you want to use them for any other purpose or if you want to make them available through your own site – get in touch first.

 

 

PIA Traffic is it increasing?

by | Jul 16, 2024 | Aviation News, Online Logging, Spotting, Spotting Locations, Spotting News

Is PIA traffic increasing?

I’d say that it most certainly is, since President Biden signed the new FAA legislation on the 16th of May 2024 there seems to be an increas in the visible traffic on ADSB Global.

What is PIA, it’s short for Privacy ICAO Address. Without delving into it too much, it’s a method that the US Government provides through it’s FAA, that can be used by any private individual to hide their private flying habits from the general public. The ICAO part is short for the International Civil Aviation Organisation.

Why bother about the fact that someone wants to hide, actually I’m not that bothered. I am a little iritated about the fact that a number of the individuals who want to obfuscate the fact that they are zooming around in private jets, are in some cases the people who would have you believe that they are in favour of a greener sustainable future.

Or in other cases people who have cultivated a public following, then decided that they want to cherry pick what the public sees of their lifestyle. I understand the security concerns that these people may have, infact I can sympathise with them on that point – not from any personal perspective, but for the reason that being famouse doesn’t give anyone an excuse to bother you.

My issue with the privacy codes comes from my interest in plane spotting, I don’t actually care who is on the aeroplane – I really only want to know if I’ve seen the plane before or not. As a plane spotter it is pretty annoying, I’m still looking for aircraft identities from many years ago. And as far as this PIA program goes I wasn’t bothered by it until I discovered that it may be used internationally.

There are many problems associated with people knowing where you are and are going, but in truth trying to hide the identity of your private Jet isn’t very effective – see the article from Forbes here and the lack of effectiveness becomes obvious. The chances of hiding from the spotting community are slim in the short term and pretty well impossible in the long term. Hiding from others not interested enough to use all the services and tecnology available might be easier, but in many cases these may well be the people that you want to cultivate.

As a footnote I would like to point out that the PIA program is free and available to any one, the FAA have assigned more than 50,000 ICAO codes to the program. As of now only a few hundred of these have been allocated, in reality to be effective, the codes have to be changed every few flights at least – but the logistics of that are quite difficult. So at the moment, the PIA program is enjoying very limited success.

 

Support this site.

It does take some time and effort to create these downloads, also there are a number of costs associated with running the site. So if you can consider supporting this site with a donation it would be helpful, if you find the site useful then why not treat me to a doughnut – or even a doughnut and a coffee if you’re feeling really flush.

But regardless of whether you donate or not, I hope that the contents of the files are of some use, also bear in mind that the files are all from the 24th of June 2024 – I will try and produce a new data set every month or more frequently if time allows.

 

 

How can I identify a PIA aircraft?

by | Nov 22, 2023 | Aviation News, Database, Online Logging, Optical Enhancement, Radio, Spotting, Spotting Locations, Spotting News

Well this is a bit of a conundrum, you see a plane look it up on one of the tracking sites and all there is is a ICAO code and a call sign. Everything else, registration, type, origin, destination and many other spotter friendly features are not displayed.

How then do you find out the actual identity of the aircraft and whatever other information that you like to collect?

Well the truth is you won’t get the information without some effort, it’s unlikely that you’ll find out the information without the help of other spotters. The only certain way of identifying these aircraft is a physical sighting, at either end of the flight – so if you can’t be at the airport when it lands then other spotter groups would probably be the place to start.

Typically a week day view of US air space will show thousands of aircraft, and the vast majority of these are readily identifiable using applications or web sites like flightradar24 or in this case globe.adsbexchange.com.

So in most cases looking up and seeing an aircraft, will if you know where you are – make the identification fairly straight forward, a quick look at the app or website and you have everything you need.

In the begining tracking flights was more technical, there were tools like ACARS – but you needed certain technical skills to use that to track aircraft. But along came flightradar24, this was an absolute boon to the spotters.

Lack of privacy was seen to be a problem, so along came the FAA’s LADD (Limiting Aircraft Data Displayed) – which is a filter that the FAA puts in place for anyone taking a data feed from them – the image is LADD subscribed aircraft.

Just to be clear, these three screen shots were taken within a few minutes of each other the bottom shot is filtered by PIA subscribed aircraft.

As you can see, there aren’t that many aircraft in the view. But what I can say is that there is literally no information that would interest a spotter, the navigational information is there but little else is available.

In the next post I’ll go over the options and list some of the ways that you can try and find out the aircraft identity. But in the mean time consider this, both the LADD and the PIA services are free – so it’s likely that people using the LADD service will move to the PIA service.

The FAA’s PIA a Spotters View

by | Aug 9, 2023 | Aviation News, Online Logging, Spotting

Privacy ICAO aircraft address (PIA) program is now fully established, so Mr Elon Musk should be happy. To paraphrase Mr Musk, he didn’t want some lunatic putting a bullet in his head.

What is the PIA program, well it basically allows the owner of an aircraft or it’s operator to request a fake ID for that aircraft while it is inside air space under the juresdiction of the FAA.

To facilitate this, the FAA has effectively created some 50,000 fake identities – yes you read that correctly. These fake identities have to be used in conjunction with a fake call sign, making aircraft identification very difficult – unless you are close enough to use the Mk I eyeball.

As I’ve already said on here, plane spotters don’t actually care who’s on a plane. Possibly the Paperazzi do, but I’m pretty sure that if I spoke to 50 spotters that none of them would even have the slightest care about the passengers – unless a member of family was onboard. Even then a spotter is still likely to be more interested in the aircraft (Unless you’re in a spotters family – then I’m sure they are more interested in you than the plane), or at least taking a passing interest.

Over the past few days I’ve been looking at aircraft operating using this new program, what I can tell you is that from a spotters perspective it is a bit perplexing. But first some of what I’ve found on the FAA site ind in the downloadable database.

A check on my scrapes database indicates that these are all assigned in the reserved file, and they are assigned to the “SBS PRGM OFC” as at 31st July 2023 there are 50,003 registrations reserved to this user. These seem to have been assigned in five groups as described below, there are real allocated registrations in all these ranges.

Date Count N-Number Range Notes
2020/02/27 2484 N1025P to N1901U Group #1
2020/02/28 11391 N101AQ to N9076S Group #2
2020/02/29 27197 N126AQ to N208GB Group #3
2020/03/01 3843 N208GN to N220QF Group #4
2020/08/16 5088 N4146Y to N429TQ Group #5

The fake identities are already in use, with quite a number being issued – well from what I can see on various flight radar type applications. Interestingly, although ADS-B Exchange was purchased by NetJets – they have an active filter that allows you to view aircraft with a PIA. More on this subject to follow, where I’ll show some examples of how the flights are hidden – along with suggestions on what to try to find out the identity of an aircraft.

 

Exploring Aircraft Tracking Sites and Communities

by | May 23, 2023 | Aviation News, Online Logging, Spotting

Plane spotting, the art of observing and identifying aircraft, has captivated aviation enthusiasts for decades. With the advent of the internet, plane spotters now have access to an array of online resources that enhance their hobby.

In this blog post, we will delve into the world of plane spotting, highlighting various aircraft tracking sites and aviation enthusiast web forums that can elevate your experience to new heights. So what’s available and how does it help the spotter?

It is all down to what your interests are, how you use the resource – with the forums, there is an element of “The more you contribute, the more valuable the resource becomes.”

 

FlightRadar24:

FlightRadar24 is one of the most popular aircraft tracking sites available today. It provides real-time tracking of flights worldwide, offering a comprehensive range of data, including aircraft type, registration, altitude, speed, and route. With FlightRadar24’s interactive map interface, you can explore flight paths, monitor arrivals and departures, and even receive alerts for specific aircraft or airports. This site also allows you to access historical data, enabling you to delve into the past and track the journey of a particular aircraft.

ADS-B Exchange:

For plane spotters seeking an open-source and community-driven platform, ADS-B Exchange is an excellent choice. It harnesses data from volunteers who host ADS-B receivers, allowing you to access real-time flight tracking information. With its extensive coverage, ADS-B Exchange provides an alternative perspective, offering additional data points for aircraft tracking. The platform’s map interface is user-friendly, enabling you to zoom in on specific regions or airports and uncover intriguing details about each flight.

Planespotters.net:

Planespotters.net serves as an aviation enthusiast’s paradise. It combines an extensive aircraft database with a lively community of passionate spotters. This site allows you to search for specific aircraft, airlines, or registrations, providing comprehensive information such as age, ownership history, and photographs. Additionally, Planespotters.net features a vibrant forum where enthusiasts can share their experiences, exchange tips and techniques, and engage in discussions about aircraft spotting.

JetPhotos:

JetPhotos is a remarkable platform for aviation photographers and plane spotters alike. It hosts an extensive collection of high-quality aircraft images contributed by enthusiasts worldwide. Whether you’re searching for a specific aircraft type, airline, or livery, JetPhotos offers a wealth of visually captivating images. Moreover, the site provides valuable metadata and detailed descriptions for each photo, including location and photographer information, offering insights into the world of plane spotting.

Airliners.net:

Airliners.net has been a go-to resource for aviation enthusiasts since 1997. It boasts an enormous database of aircraft photos, including historical shots, rare liveries, and unique aircraft configurations. The site’s forum serves as a hub for passionate aviation enthusiasts to discuss various topics, share trip reports, and exchange knowledge about plane spotting techniques. Airliners.net’s comprehensive coverage, coupled with its vibrant community, makes it a must-visit destination for every plane spotting enthusiast.

The digital era has revolutionized plane spotting, granting enthusiasts access to an extensive range of aircraft tracking sites and aviation enthusiast communities. Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned spotter, these online resources will enhance your passion for aviation, allowing you to track flights in real-time, explore comprehensive aircraft databases, view captivating photographs, and engage with fellow enthusiasts worldwide. So grab your binoculars, set up your tracking tools, and immerse yourself in the fascinating world of plane spotting. Happy spotting!

Vanishing Numbers

by | Apr 1, 2023 | Aviation News, Spotting

In recent years, a new trend has emerged in US Military aviation: a growing number of operational aircraft are flying without any visible markings. Gone are the days when aircraft displayed their serial numbers and unit insignias proudly on their fuselage for all to see. Now, these aircraft blend into the sky, making it difficult for observers to determine their origin or purpose.

The reasons behind this new trend are not entirely clear. Some speculate that it is part of a larger effort to increase operational security and reduce the risk of enemy detection. By removing visible markings, the hope is that potential adversaries will have a harder time identifying specific aircraft and tracing them back to their home base or unit.

Others suggest that the move towards unmarked aircraft is simply a response to changes in the nature of modern warfare. As conflict has shifted from traditional battles between nation-states to more asymmetric forms of warfare, the need for stealth and deception has increased. Unmarked aircraft may be better suited to these types of operations, where the element of surprise can be critical.

Whatever the reason, the trend towards unmarked aircraft is not limited to a specific type or branch of the military. Unmarked aircraft have been spotted across the armed forces, from Air Force fighter jets to Army helicopters. Even unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are getting in on the act, with some drones now flying without any visible markings.

The use of unmarked aircraft is not without controversy. Some have raised concerns that the lack of visible identification makes it difficult to hold specific units or individuals accountable for their actions. Others worry that unmarked aircraft may be more prone to friendly fire incidents, as they can be mistaken for enemy aircraft.

Despite these concerns, it seems likely that the trend towards unmarked aircraft will continue in the years to come. As the nature of warfare continues to evolve, the military will continue to seek out new and innovative ways to gain an advantage over their adversaries. For now, at least, unmarked aircraft seem to be one of the tools in their arsenal.

Plane spotters who are interested in identifying US military aircraft despite the lack of visible serial numbers can use various methods to do so. Here are some possible ways:

 

  1. Use radio frequencies: Plane spotters can use radio scanners to listen to the radio frequencies used by military aircraft. This can provide information about the type of aircraft, its location, and other useful details.
  2. Look for distinctive features: Even though US military aircraft do not have visible serial numbers, they often have other distinctive features that can help with identification. For example, some aircraft have unique paint schemes, markings, or shapes that can be used to identify them.
  3. Use flight tracking websites: Many flight tracking websites provide real-time data on the movements of military aircraft. These websites may not provide detailed information about the aircraft type or serial number, but they can give spotters an idea of where the aircraft is going and what it is doing.
  4. Use aircraft databases: There are several online databases that provide information about military aircraft. These databases may include photographs, technical specifications, and other details that can help with identification.
  5. Attend airshows and military events: Attending airshows and military events can provide an opportunity to see US military aircraft up close. Spotters can take photographs, make notes, and ask questions to help with identification.

It’s important to note that some methods of identifying military aircraft may require a certain level of knowledge and experience. It’s also important to respect the privacy and security concerns of the military and to avoid trespassing or other illegal activities in the pursuit of plane spotting.