FlightAware
FlightAware is a U.S.-based aviation technology company providing live, historical, and predictive flight-tracking data and operational tools.
Last updated October 15, 2026
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Overview
FlightAware is an aviation data and technology company headquartered in Houston, Texas. Its core service combines aircraft position information from automatic dependent surveillance–broadcast (ADS-B) receivers, aviation authorities and other data providers, satellite and aircraft datalink systems, schedules, weather information, and operational records. The resulting data is presented through public web and mobile experiences as well as commercial products for airlines, airports, fixed-base operators (FBOs), aircraft owners, flight departments, software developers, and other aviation businesses. The company was founded in 2005 after Daniel Baker looked for a practical way for his family to follow his private flights. Baker worked with Karl Lehenbauer and David McNett to build a free public flight-tracking service at a time when much of the available flight information was directed toward enterprise users. FlightAware began processing live flight data on March 17, 2005. The service expanded from a consumer-facing website into a broader aviation information platform, adding alerts, airport activity, weather and mapping features, historical reports, pilot resources, community contributions, and tools for professional operators. The company reported becoming profitable in 2006 and later developed a substantial paid-services business. FlightAware's data network is a central part of its competitive position. It operates and supports a large global network of ADS-B ground stations, including FlightFeeder equipment supplied to contributors in areas where coverage is limited. The platform also combines terrestrial ADS-B with data from aviation authorities and network service providers, and can use satellite or VHF datalink information for aircraft equipped with compatible systems. Through a 2016 partnership with Aireon, FlightAware incorporated space-based ADS-B coverage into global tracking services intended to improve visibility over oceans and remote regions. By the 2020s, the company described its network as spanning tens of thousands of receiver sites and nearly 200 countries. For consumers, FlightAware offers flight searches, airport maps, notifications, aircraft and fleet monitoring, weather information, historical flight data, and community functions. Registered users can create alerts, submit aviation news and photographs, and participate in forums. Premium accounts provide expanded alerts, historical visibility, weather and aircraft-detail access, fleet functions, and larger map displays. For commercial users, FlightAware offers worldwide tracking through FlightAware Global, selective aircraft unblocking, FlightAware TV displays, FBO ToolBox, custom reports, data feeds, and developer interfaces. Its AeroAPI, previously known as FlightXML, supplies flight status and related information through programmatic queries and callbacks, while Firehose provides live tracking data for integration into third-party applications. On November 16, 2021, Collins Aerospace completed its acquisition of FlightAware. Collins Aerospace is part of RTX, formerly known as Raytheon Technologies. The acquisition placed FlightAware within a major aerospace and defense technology group while preserving its identity as a flight-data and tracking platform. In October 2023, FlightAware broadened its tracking coverage with Global for Helicopters, which supports helicopter monitoring through ADS-B and space-based receivers where compatible equipment and coverage are available. In August 2024, the company notified users of a website data breach that may have exposed email addresses, passwords, and additional profile information; the number of affected users was not publicly specified in the cited material.
History
FlightAware originated from a personal tracking problem. In 2004, Daniel Baker wanted a convenient way for relatives to follow his private aircraft movements. Existing services were comparatively focused on enterprise customers, so Baker recruited Karl Lehenbauer and David McNett to develop a free public alternative. FlightAware was founded on March 17, 2005, and began processing live flight information. The service initially established its audience through a web platform that brought together flight statuses, aircraft movements, airport information, maps, weather, and notifications. Its free model encouraged broad adoption and generated a user community that could contribute photographs, aviation news, and discussion content. The company subsequently added registration-based functions, including aircraft alerts, expanded historical access, and personal monitoring tools. According to the cited reference material, FlightAware became profitable in 2006 and later maintained a substantial commercial business alongside its public service. As the platform matured, FlightAware expanded beyond basic flight lookup. It developed premium consumer accounts and professional products for aircraft operators, airports, FBOs, and software developers. FlightAware Global enabled worldwide aircraft tracking through combinations of terrestrial aviation data, ADS-B, satellite communications, and VHF datalink providers. Selective unblocking addressed privacy and security needs by allowing approved individuals to follow an aircraft while keeping its movements unavailable to the general public. FlightAware TV provided large-screen operational displays, while FBO ToolBox supplied traffic, fuel, operator, and market-analysis functions. Custom reports allowed customers to study airport activity and historical traffic patterns. Data collection and distribution became important strategic capabilities. FlightAware built a distributed ADS-B receiver network and offered FlightFeeder equipment to help expand coverage. Participating receiver operators could contribute data and receive account benefits. The company also integrated feeds from aviation authorities, datalink providers, and other sources. In September 2016, FlightAware and Aireon announced a partnership involving space-based ADS-B data. This was particularly relevant to oceanic and remote-area tracking, where terrestrial receivers are unavailable, and to airline efforts to meet international aircraft-tracking expectations. FlightAware also built developer-facing infrastructure. FlightXML, later renamed AeroAPI, provided programmatic access to flight status, airline, map, schedule, gate, aircraft, and event information, including callback notifications. Firehose offered live tracking data for third-party systems. Partnerships and integrations involving organizations such as ARINC, SITA, Rockwell Collins, and IBM's The Weather Company extended the use of FlightAware data in aviation and enterprise applications. The company continued to broaden its coverage and customer base during the 2020s. In October 2023, it introduced Global for Helicopters, supporting helicopter tracking through compatible 1090 MHz ADS-B equipment and space-based reception where available, with functionality for custom or temporary landing sites. On November 16, 2021, Collins Aerospace completed its acquisition of FlightAware. Collins Aerospace operates within RTX, placing FlightAware alongside a large aerospace technology portfolio while retaining the FlightAware brand and its focus on flight intelligence. In August 2024, FlightAware notified users of a data breach involving its website. The company stated that email addresses and passwords were affected and that additional profile information might also have been exposed when users had supplied it. The cited material did not provide a confirmed number of affected users or describe a regulatory or legal outcome. By 2025, FlightAware was described as one of the largest flight-tracking platforms globally, with a receiver network covering tens of thousands of sites across nearly 200 countries and products serving consumers, aviation operators, airports, airlines, and developers.
- 2024
Website data breach disclosed to users
[1]FlightAware notified users that a breach may have exposed account credentials and profile information.
- 2023
Global for Helicopters introduced
[1]FlightAware added a helicopter-tracking service using compatible aircraft transponders and space-based ADS-B coverage where available.
- 2021
Acquired by Collins Aerospace
[1]Collins Aerospace completed its acquisition of FlightAware on November 16.
- 2016
Aireon partnership announced
[1]FlightAware announced a partnership with Aireon to incorporate global space-based ADS-B information into flight-tracking services.
- 2012
FBO ToolBox Europe launched
[1]FlightAware introduced a European version of FBO ToolBox for airport and fixed-base-operator analysis.
- 2006
Profitability reported
[1]The company is described in the reference material as having been profitable since 2006.
- 2005
FlightAware founded and launched
[1]FlightAware was founded on March 17 and began processing live flight data through a public tracking service.
- 2004
Concept developed
[1]Daniel Baker began exploring a free flight-tracking service after seeking a way for family members to monitor his private flights.
Products and positioning
A global aviation intelligence and flight-visibility platform connecting public flight tracking with operational data products for airlines, airports, operators, developers, and aviation enthusiasts.
Consumer flight information · 2005
FlightAware flight-tracking platform
The public-facing platform provides live and historical flight status, aircraft and airport maps, weather information, aviation statistics, notifications, airport activity, pilot resources, photographs, community news, and discussion functions. Free registration adds alerts and personalization, while paid accounts expand historical access, weather coverage, fleet monitoring, aircraft details, and display capabilities.
Commercial aircraft tracking
FlightAware Global
FlightAware Global extends tracking beyond areas covered by terrestrial receivers by combining FlightAware data with aircraft datalink services, including satellite and VHF communications. It supports worldwide status visibility and, in some configurations, operational messaging and dispatch functions for aircraft operators.
Helicopter tracking · 2023
Global for Helicopters
Introduced in 2023, Global for Helicopters supports helicopter monitoring through compatible ADS-B transponders and Aireon space-based receivers where applicable. Operators can identify custom or temporary landing sites using geographic coordinates.
Aviation data API
AeroAPI
AeroAPI, formerly FlightXML, provides developers with query and callback access to flight statuses, schedules, maps, airline information, aircraft identifiers, gates, delays, cancellations, diversions, and related operational events. It supports common web-service patterns and can be used by applications written in multiple programming languages.
Live aviation data feed
Firehose
Firehose is a commercial live-data service that allows third parties to incorporate FlightAware aircraft positions into their own applications and operational systems. Data can be delivered through live snapshots or streaming feeds.
ADS-B receiver
FlightFeeder
FlightFeeder is a compact receiver and processing unit that collects ADS-B signals and sends them to FlightAware over the internet. The company supplies units to help improve coverage in underserved locations; the equipment can also make received data available locally.
FBO and airport analytics
FBO ToolBox
FBO ToolBox gives fixed-base operators and airport businesses tools for studying traffic, competing fuel prices, aircraft operators, origins and destinations, airport history, and possible fuel demand. It also includes a fuel-burn calculation function based on filed flight plans.
Operational display
FlightAware TV
FlightAware TV is a web-based display designed for large screens. Customers can configure it for fleet monitoring or airport views showing activity such as departures and arrivals.
Controversies
2026
FlightAware sues Kalshi over flight cancellation prediction markets
FlightAware sued prediction market Kalshi, alleging that Kalshi used FlightAware's data and name without authorization to host betting markets on U.S. flight cancellations. According to the source, Kalshi displayed FlightAware branding and information even after FlightAware demanded it stop. FlightAware is seeking a jury trial and has not specified damages.
2024
FlightAware website data breach
In August 2024, FlightAware emailed users about a data breach affecting its website. The company said email addresses and passwords were involved and that additional profile information might have been exposed for users who had supplied it. The cited reference did not state how many users were affected or identify a final regulatory or legal resolution.
Brand decisions
2023
Expand tracking to helicoptersProduct launchBackground
Helicopter operators require tracking capabilities that account for different operating patterns and landing locations.
Action taken
FlightAware launched Global for Helicopters, supporting compatible ADS-B-equipped aircraft and custom or temporary landing sites.
Aftermath
The service broadened FlightAware's product coverage within the rotorcraft segment.
2021
Join the Collins Aerospace portfolioM&ABackground
FlightAware had developed a global aviation data platform serving both public users and commercial aviation customers.
Action taken
Collins Aerospace completed the acquisition of FlightAware on November 16, 2021.
Aftermath
FlightAware became a subsidiary within Collins Aerospace and the wider RTX group.
2016
Integrate space-based ADS-B coverageStrategyBackground
Terrestrial ADS-B networks have limited reach over oceans and remote regions, creating gaps in global aircraft visibility.
Action taken
FlightAware partnered with Aireon to use space-based ADS-B data in global tracking services for airline fleets and international tracking requirements.
Aftermath
The partnership expanded the geographic scope of FlightAware's tracking proposition beyond ground-receiver coverage.
Recent events
FlightAware sues Kalshi over flight cancellation prediction markets[3]
Reported:
FlightAware sued prediction market Kalshi, alleging Kalshi used FlightAware's data and name without authorization to host betting markets on U.S. flight cancellations, displaying FlightAware branding and information even after FlightAware demanded it stop. FlightAware is seeking a jury trial and has not specified damages.
Collins completes FlightAware acquisition[4]
Reported:
Collins Aerospace completed its acquisition of FlightAware, which became part of Collins' newly formed Connected Aviation Solutions business unit.
FlightAware announces Aviator flight-tracking service[5]
FlightAware announced the launch of Aviator, a subscription-based flight-tracking software service for piston aircraft pilots and operators, accessible through a browser or an iOS app.
FlightAware announces Aviator subscription service[6]
Reported:
FlightAware announced Aviator, a new subscription-based service offering advanced flight-tracking and planning information.
Sources6 sources
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