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Frequently asked questions
Quick, direct answers about live flight tracking and how this site works.
How many planes are in the sky right now?
Over the United States, typically several thousand aircraft are airborne at once, and the live counter on our home page shows the current number from our feed. The count is lowest overnight and peaks in the early afternoon Eastern time. The FAA says it handles about 45,000 flights a day.
Where does the data come from?
Aircraft broadcast their own position, altitude, speed and identity using ADS-B. Volunteer-run receivers pick up these signals and share them with the airplanes.live community network. heywhatsflying.com reads a national snapshot of that feed for the US region.
How often does the page update?
Our live pages refresh about every 15 seconds while the tab is visible, and pause when you switch away to save data and battery. Aircraft positions are typically 5 to 30 seconds old.
Is this real-time?
It is near real time. Aircraft broadcast about twice a second and the feed aggregates within seconds, but our national snapshot is refreshed every 10 to 15 seconds. It is for curiosity and learning, not for navigation or safety decisions.
Why is a plane I know is flying not shown?
The aircraft may be outside receiver coverage, especially at low altitude over mountains, deserts or water. It may not carry ADS-B Out, or it may be a sensitive government flight operating without it. It may also be outside our US box, such as over Alaska, Hawaii or the open ocean.
What area does the US view cover?
The US snapshot covers a box from 24 to 50 degrees north and 125 to 66 degrees west. That includes the lower 48 states and coastal waters, plus southern Canada, northern Mexico and part of the Bahamas. Alaska and Hawaii are outside it.
Why do some military aircraft show up and others do not?
Routine military flights such as transports and tankers often broadcast ADS-B like civil aircraft. FAA rules allow aircraft on sensitive missions to fly without ADS-B Out, so many fighters and special missions are not visible. Some can still be located by multilateration.
What does squawk 7700 mean?
Squawk 7700 is the transponder code for a general emergency. It tells air traffic control the crew needs priority help, for reasons such as a medical problem on board or an engine issue. Most 7700 flights land normally.
Does an emergency squawk mean a plane is in danger?
Usually not in the dramatic sense. Crews declare emergencies early and precautionarily to get priority, and the great majority land safely. Some emergency codes in public data are simply mis-set and corrected within seconds.
What is the difference between ground speed and airspeed?
Airspeed is how fast the aircraft moves through the air. Ground speed is how fast it moves over the ground, so it includes wind. An airliner with a strong tailwind can show a ground speed above 650 knots while its airspeed is normal.
Why does an aircraft's altitude say "ground"?
The aircraft is reporting that it is on the surface, for example taxiing or parked with its transponder on. Aircraft on the ground are included in the snapshot total but not in the airborne count.
How do I look up a specific aircraft?
Use the aircraft lookup page and enter its six-character hex code (ICAO address), such as a1b2c3. If the aircraft is in our latest snapshot, you will see its current data and a link to follow it live on airplanes.live.
Can I see an aircraft's flight path or history?
heywhatsflying.com shows the current moment. Every aircraft links to the airplanes.live globe, which draws the aircraft's trail and offers history and replay.
How is heywhatsflying.com different from heywhatsabove.com?
heywhatsflying.com is the national view: how many aircraft are flying across the US right now, the highest, fastest, emergencies, military and the most common types. Its sister site heywhatsabove.com is the local view, showing what is flying over your location and where to look.
Is heywhatsflying.com free?
Yes. All live pages, guides and reference content are free. A Pro plan with extra features is offered for people who want more, and is shown on the Pro page as coming soon until payments open.
Do you track me or use cookies?
No accounts are required, we do not set cookies, and we do not run analytics scripts. Your browser may store small conveniences such as display settings locally on your device.
How far does coverage reach?
A single ground receiver can hear high-flying aircraft up to about 250 nautical miles away. With thousands of volunteer receivers, coverage across the lower 48 states is excellent at cruising altitudes and patchier near the ground in remote areas.
How do I report a data problem?
Wrong types or registrations usually come from aircraft databases, and missing aircraft usually reflect receiver coverage. Data issues can be reported to the airplanes.live community, and problems with this site can be reported through the contact details on our About page.