Guides
How flight tracking works
Short, plain-language guides to what's behind the numbers on a flight tracker: radio signals, squawk codes, altitude, routes and weather.
Avionics & Radar
How ADS-B Tracking Works
An in-depth technical dive into Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B), Mode S transponder interrogation, 1090MHz Extended Squitter telemetry, and ground-station multilateration.
Air Traffic Control
Squawk Codes Explained
A complete breakdown of 4-digit octal transponder squawk codes assigned by ATC, emergency squawk protocol triggers, and automated radar alert systems.
Flight Dynamics
Barometric vs. Geometric Altitude
Understanding QNH, QFE, standard pressure settings (1013.25 hPa / 29.92 inHg), Flight Levels (FL), and GPS geometric altitude discrepancies.
Navigation
Great Circle Routes
Explaining spherical geometry, geodesic paths vs. Mercator map projections, ETOPS ratings, and jet stream wind optimization in international flight planning.
Aviation Tech
TCAS & ACARS
A detailed breakdown of TCAS II Resolution Advisories (RA), ACARS VHF/Satellite datalink text messaging, and automated flight ops telemetry.
Meteorology
Decoding METAR & TAF Weather Reports
How pilots and dispatchers read raw METAR routine weather reports, TAF forecasts, RVR runway visual range, and altimeter settings.