I was looking for software to give advance warning of flights since the helicopters that regularly appear near me are never on the likes of Drone Assist, and then I realised that most of the heli flights show on software like FlightAware or Flightradar24 yet never show on the “ official” CAA software NATS AE.
When I started checking I found the answer on the NATS website. “We don’t display all of our radar data, as a number of aircraft, such as most military and police aircraft, are removed.”
Not much use then really if the censor the data.
I thought that little gem might be interesting to any one looking for flight info.
Not all choppers or fixed wing (private) keep their transponders operating…they regularly fly over my place from all points - sometimes nothing is shown on FR24…nothing - yet I can clearly see them by MK 1 eyeball.
Sorry badly worded, I meant that these low flying choppers never use the app to pre warn , the chinooks often only become audibly visible when they are nearly overhead and if you have a drone up there is little time to drop it as they are often sub 400ft or it looks it.
I think you may find the Chinook helicopters fall under the Ministry Of Defense bubble, so I would be absolutely shocked and stunned if they were to display there location through any form of transponder.
That is because it was very close to an international airport and obviously not conducting any training or covert operation, bet it was pretty good to see it on FR24
EDIT
I changed the airport from domestic to international
thanks @AIRAC
Touche!..
(Not a lot of people know this)…but Biirmigham Airpprt was the first place in the world to operate a MAGLEV people carrier…not for long tho’…it kept dropping on the track!..think they have a rail job nowadays.
One thing to remember about these online tracking APPs is they rely on a third party receiver to be active in that area and to be in direct line of sight of the aircraft.
I’m situated about 5 miles North of LBA, but I’m also about 140m lower in elevation than the runway. When I’ve used my own ADSB receiving gear I can track aircraft on approach if I can visually see them. But when the aircraft disappears behind the peak of Otley Chevin I can no longer visually see the aircraft or receive its ADSB transmission even though it’s only about 2miles away. In contrast I can still receive ADSB signals of aircraft at cruising altitude up to 200miles or more distant from me. The limiting factor here is my location in this valley and the curvature of the Earth. Yes, the Earth is spherical and not flat!!!
If you’re interested in running your on ADSB receiver it can be done using a cheap DVBT (Digital TV) USB dongle and and free software on PC, Android, and quite possibly a Mac.
The one that comes with the dongle is usually adequate for picking up most of the signals on a casual basis if you site it next to a window and have a clear view of the sky.
I have a feeling you maybe disappearing down another rabbit hole, Alice.