Flight Tracking

Viewing the Flight Tracking page

To view the Flight tracking page

·    On the Communications/Tracking menu, click Flight Tracking.

Flight Tracking function helps you to track the current position of an aircraft, whether it is on ground or airborne. It uses a combination of datalink and FAA data, to display an aircraft's current or last known position on the map.  You can also plot real-time weather, airspace, and airport information. The tool also allows you to communicate with the flight crew in real time using the datalink messaging feature.

The Flight Tracking page displays the following panes.

·    Tail List - This pane appears on the left of the page and displays the list of tail numbers and call signs. By default the auto-hide option is enabled  which hides the pane automatically to maximize the map area. You can perform the following operations in this pane.

·    Select all tails in the list by selecting the Select All check box.

·    Sort the list based on the aircraft type by clicking the Sort by Aircraft Type option.

When a tail is selected, the following options are displayed and the aircraft icon is rendered on the map.

·     - Click to change the color of the aircraft icon.

·     - Click to plot the planned route on the map.

·     - Click to view/clear the Range-Ring around the aircraft.

·     - Click to locate the aircraft on the map.

·    Map/Satellite View - This pane appears on the right of the page and displays the selected Tail, Range-Ring, and Route on the maps. You can change the view of this pane by clicking the Map/Satellite  options in the pane. You can pan/Zoom In/Zoom Out of the maps using the pan/zoom options.

·    Overlay - This pane appears on the top of the page and displays the following.

·    Airports - This option helps you to view all the airports in the world/ locate an ICAO/ airports around an ICAO based on the runway length and airport type (Civil, Military, Joint, Private, and Unknown). Each airport type is differentiated using a color code, which are displayed as legend.

·    Distance & Bearing - This option helps you to find the distance and magnetic bearing between two points. Clicking this option displays the and markers on the map. You can move the markers to the desired locations to find the distance and bearing details. If the desired points are not visible, move the markers off the map, wait for the map to pan or zoom, and then adjust them to the desired locations.

·    Airspace Info - This option helps you to plot the following:.

·    TFRs

·    VHF Coverage

·    VHF Stations

·    Terminal Waypoints

·    FIR/UIR

·    VOR

·    VOR/DME

·    VORTAC

·    TACAN

·    NDB

Each airspace item is represented as an icon. You can select a check boxes corresponding to an item to plot it on the maps.

·    RADAR - This option helps you to plot the US continental RADAR on the map. Precipitation levels are differentiated by a color code, which is displayed as a legend .

·    Winds - This option helps you to plot wind speed/direction at various flight levels.

·    Turbulence - This option helps you to plot turbulence at various flight levels. Turbulence levels are differentiated by a color code, which is displayed as a legend

·    SIGMETs - This options helps you to plot the SIGMETs on the maps. After plotting the SIGMETs, you can click (SIGMET icon) to view additional information.

Clicking   corresponding to an overlay displays/hides the options as applicable.  

·    Text View - This pane appears on the bottom of the Map/Satellite View pane and displays the following tabs.

·    Position Reports - This tab displays the active position reports of a selected Tail in the Tail List pane. Each tail selected in the Tail List pane appears as a pane in this tab. You can click on each pane to view the report details (Date (UTC), Latitude, Longitude, Altitude (FL), Report Type, Station, Network). Clicking Locate corresponding to a report renders its position on the map.

·    Downlink & Uplink Messages - This tab displays the list of downlink/uplink messages of a selected Tail.  Each Tail selected in the Tail List pane appears as a pane in this tab. By default, both the Downlink and Uplink Messages check boxes are selected.

·    Recent Trips - This tab displays the list of the last three  trips of a selected Tail in the Tail List pane. Each tail selected in the Tail List pane appears as a pane in this tab. You can click on each pane to view the trip details.

You can perform the following operations on the Flight Tracking page.

·    View aircraft on the map

·    Plot the flight plan

·    Plot Range-Rings

·    View Flight Info

·    Uplink a message

·    View airports around an aircraft

·    View VHF stations around an aircraft

Viewing aircraft on the map

To view the aircraft on the maps

·    Select a check box corresponding to a Tail in the Tail List pane.

Plotting a flight plan

To plot a flight plan

·    Click corresponding to a tail in the Tail List pane.

Plotting Range-Rings

To plot Range-Rings

·    Click corresponding to a tail in the Tail List pane.

Viewing flight info

To view the flight info

·    Click an aircraft icon in the map pane.

The <Tail Number> dialog box appears and displays the information in the Flight Info tab.

Uplinking a message

To uplink a message

1.  Click an aircraft icon in the map pane.

The <Tail Number> dialog box appears.

2.  Click the Uplink tab and perform the following:

·    Type the Sender*.

·    Type the Subject.

·    Type the Message*.

3.  Click Send Message.

Viewing airports around an aircraft

To view airports around an aircraft

1.  Click an aircraft icon in the map pane.

The <Tail Number> dialog box appears.

2.  Click the Airports tab and perform the following:

·    Move the Distance from Aircraft slider as applicable.

·    Move the Runway Length slider as applicable.

·    Select the check boxes corresponding to the Airport Types.

3.  Click Plot on Map to plot the airports on the maps.

View VHF stations around an aircraft

To view VHF stations around an aircraft

1.  Click an aircraft icon in the map pane.

The <Tail Number> dialog box appears.

2.  Click the VHF tab.

3.  Move the Distance from Aircraft slider as applicable.

4.  Click Plot on Map to plot the VHF on the maps.