Aviation–Real-Time Databases
Source: PC Magazine
How Real-Time Flight Information Databases Work
When Chris and I wrote The Invisible Web we spent a few pages talking about real-time or near real-time databases. One of our favorites in this category is FlightTracker (via CheapTickets.Com). Yes, flight tracking info is available in many places including directly from the airlines but FlightTracker allows you to actually see the plane move every few seconds on a map. Other data includes air speed, compass direction, and altitude. In many cases flight info data is supplied by Boston-based RLM Software. This article from the current issue of PC Magazine explains how it all works. Don’t forget that what’s available for free is just the tip of the iceberg as compare to the data available via a subscription to the fee-based service. Btw, you can also get flight tracking info direct from RLM but imho, the FlightTracker implementation looks nicer.

This entry was posted on Sunday, November 30th, 2003 and is filed under Real-Time Information. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.