Flight Data Channels

Where the data comes from that LiveTraffic depends on

Live Flight Data Channels

L​iveTraffic creates aircraft in X-Plane‘s sky at current real life positions. Flight tracking data providers provide this positional information.

Without tracking data from internet providers, LiveTraffic cannot do anything. Collecting tracking data is big effort. Some providers build on flight enthusiast communities to help, others invest much money themselves. No matter what, running a server infrastructure costs actual money. Hence, conditions under which we can access their data, varies. Respect their conditions, help the data collection networks to survive!

LiveTraffic works out of the box with Airplanes.live, adsb.fi, OpenSky, and Open Glider Network as flight tracking data providers, so you can try at no cost if LiveTraffic is for you.

If you then want to step up on realism you will find the probably best quality of data with RealTraffic, which provides both traffic (incl. parked aircraft) and weather data for a moderate monthly subscription fee. Another paid option is ADS-B Exchange. (These fees go to Inside Systems Pty Ltd. or ADS-B Exchange respectively, not to the author of LiveTraffic.)

These traffic data channels are available in LiveTraffic:

Name	Access	Check Coverage	Contribute	Terms
Paid:
RealTraffic	paid subscription (details), includes parked aircraft and weather data, unlimited	Live Map (requires free account)	n/a	n/a
ADS-B Exchange	paid subscriptions, request limits apply, API key needed (details)	Radar View	Feed ADS-B data, Donate	Terms and Conditions
Free:
Airplanes.live	free, anonymous (details)	Airplanes.live map	Feed ADS-B	Terms of use
adsb.fi	free, anonymous (details)	adsb.fi map	Feed ADS-B
OpenSky Network	free, anonymous or registered, request limits apply (details)	OpenSky Explorer (currently unreliable, see note above)	Feed ADS-B data, A/C database, Sponsoring	Terms of use
Open Glider Network	free, anonymous, unlimited (details)	Spot the gliders!	see OGN home page	Data usage rules
Contributors:
ADSBHub	registered users feeding data (details)	Coverage	How to feed?	Terms of use
Virtual Traffic:
FSCharter v2	registered users (details)	Flight Board	n/a	Legal documents
SayIntentions	free, anonymous (details)	SI Flight Tracker	n/a	n/a
AutoATC	free, anonymous (details)	AutoATC Status	n/a	n/a
Internal:
Synthetic	Artificial internal channel that keeps parked aircraft (config)

Support Traffic Data Providers

Please support the people providing the data LiveTraffic builds upon!

The infrastructure for world-wide coverage of ADS-B data costs a lot of money that public networks don't really have. They rely on your support. If we LiveTraffic users consume the data then we cause load on their infrastructure. In return we should give something. There are different ways you can help those communities:

Support them with ADS-B receivers to increase coverage. It really isn't all that difficult and would help the entire community:

• Airplanes.live - Add a feed

• adsb.fi feed client

• OpenSky - Improve Coverage with your own receiver or by funding one

• Open Glider Network - See their home page, section "The OGN is growing and evolving"

• ADSBHub - How to feed - You can use ADSBHub's data only if you feed to ADSBHub

• ADS-B Exchange - How to feed with your own receiver, scripts readily available

Typically, one receiver can feed into several networks in parallel.

Maintain data, especially data about aircraft and routes. This in turn has an immediate effect in LiveTraffic: If an aircraft is properly maintained then it is shown with correct model and livery. If you find a wrong one go to OpenSky Aircraft Database (not available as of APR-2026) and add/correct the data (requires a login, which is completely free).