Question 1

What is the difference between ADS-B and VATSIM tracking?

Accepted Answer

ADS-B tracks real-world aircraft that broadcast their position via ADS-B Out transponders. VATSIM tracks virtual pilots flying on the VATSIM simulation network — typically on Microsoft Flight Simulator, X-Plane, or Prepar3D — under virtual ATC control. Aviatr shows both side by side so you can follow real flights and simulated ones in the same interface.

Question 2

Where does the ADS-B data come from?

Accepted Answer

Aviatr proxies live ADS-B feeds from api.adsb.lol with api.airplanes.live as a fallback. Both are free public aggregators fed by community ground-station receivers worldwide. No API key is required and data refreshes every few seconds.

Question 3

Can I track my own flight and share a live link?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Start a tracking session from the dashboard before departure and Aviatr generates a share link that friends and family can open to see your live position on a map. No signup required for viewers — they just open the URL.

Question 4

Is live tracking free?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Both ADS-B and VATSIM tracking are free for registered Aviatr users. The data providers are free public services and Aviatr passes them through without markup.

Question 5

How accurate and up-to-date is the flight data?

Accepted Answer

ADS-B positions typically refresh every 2–5 seconds directly from ground receivers. VATSIM data refreshes roughly every 15 seconds from the official VATSIM data feed. Coverage depends on receiver density — dense in Europe and North America, thinner over oceans and remote regions.

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