Flights

Flights was Originally Posted on July 7, 2013 by lavarock

One of the websites mentioned on CNN yesterday is one that I use often, called FlightAware.Com, which allows you to track flights both planned and in progress. You can also see how long a flight usually takes and that tells you if it is chronically late.

For example, entering PHKO in the Airport TrackerInfo Airport Code brings up my local airport and live data. These codes are a bit different from the normal 3 letter airport code you may be familiar with. Kailua-Kona (or officially Kona Intl At Keahole Airport) is called “KOA” by airlines but here is PHKO for Pacific Hawaii Kona. If you are not familiar with the 4 letter acronym, then just enter the city name in the next lower box and choose a location.

Hovering over a plane shows the owner/operator (AA is American Airlines, DL is Delta), the flight number, the plan type and where they are from and where they are heading. The middle set of numbers shows the altitude, so 185 is 18,500 feet and the second number, speed in knots.

Checking in today, I see that San Francisco airport is in operation, as are Oakland and San Jose.

It was this site I went to when I saw what I thought were the lights of a plane over my farm, headed in an odd direction. When I didn’t see any planes in my vicinity I realized that the reason the sight was odd was that the lights did not blink on the vehicle. It was then I realized that it was a satellite and went to another website to look. By then the object was well gone, but was able to determine what it had been (Soviet as I remember).

At this second, from LAX I see American, Hawaiian United and others headed to Honolulu, Kona and Maui, all strung out along the same path like Christmas tree lights.

If you live near a flight path, you can also listen in on a scanner to the tower and planes. On some planes (I believe United) the Captain may offer access to Channel 9, which is the inflight channel used for cockpit communications.

http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/general_aviation/read.main/3688063/