Plane Finder Live Flight Tracking App Launches as a Free Web App

Plane Finder Live Flight Tracking App Launches as a Free Web App

The highly rated Plane Finder App for iPhone, iPad, Android and Windows Phone has launched as a new free web app for desktop users. Special features designed for the new web app include - historical playback of flight patterns and "Fly Me" using Google Earth. The live plane tracking data is real time and obtained via a network of receivers across the globe.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/09/19/prweb8807390.DTL

 

At first glance, http://www.flightstats.com seems to track a lot more flights, although Plane Finder has some very nice features (including detailed info on the airplane).

 

Does it tell you where the cute chickens are sitting?

 

Ah. Plane Finder shows the int'l flights, whereas the Flightstats flight tracker mostly shows domestic.It also seems relatively real time, whereas Flightstats and some of the others have a 5 minute delay. So for my usage, while Flightstats has more quantity, (lots of RJ's and MD-80's) Plane Finder has more quality.

I just spotted a Swissair 333 and Eitad 777 over my house thanks to Plane Finder.

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Swissair 333 at 4400 ft above my house​

 

Seems to have issues. I click on planes approaching DEN and they show tracks like DTW-CLT.

 

Reading the FAQ, it is still in development, they are looking for more data feeds and improved data accuracy.

 

Aren't we all. Wake me when they reach "improved data accuracy."

 

At the moment they are showing a Frontier Airlines 737 from IAD to AMS approaching ORD at 43,000 ft.

 

Hmmm, wrong in at least 4 ways. I would say they are on a looooooong search for improved data accuracy. At least it was a plane icon, yes? Not a boat or a train?

 

details, details.

 

Seems their feeds have gotten weaker in the past week. Instead of seeing a dozen planes on ORD approach at any time, I just see between 0 and 3. Also, getting more false data- after a plane has landed, they show it doing a flyover for a minute or two, cruising 10 miles past ORD before it suddenly disappears off their map.

 

Fortunately the A319 and 737 shown in this screen cap were separated by 13,000 feet of altitude.



I've gotten a few good catches with Planefinder (like an AF plane directly overhead- the realtime feed is nice) but they have huge gaps in their data and details. They often list JAL planes approaching ORD as being a domestic configuration, earlier today I spotted a listing for a Cessna Citation going from ORD to Hamburg, Germany, although it was headed West from Chicago. (I think it would have to land mid Atlantic for refueling? )