Overview

The OpenSky Network is a non-profit association that operates a global network of ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast) receivers, collecting and disseminating real-time and historical air traffic control data. Established in 2015, the initiative aims to provide open access to air traffic information for academic research, public interest, and commercial applications. The network gathers data from various sources, including cooperative surveillance technologies like ADS-B and Mode S interrogations, offering a comprehensive view of global air traffic movements. The OpenSky Network API allows users to query current and historical flight information, including aircraft position, velocity, callsign, squawk code, and other parameters. This data is critical for a range of use cases, from developing sophisticated flight tracking applications to conducting in-depth analyses of air traffic patterns, congestion, and environmental impact. Academic researchers can utilize the extensive dataset for studies on air traffic management, aviation safety, and even urban planning related to airport noise and flight paths. For instance, universities might analyze historical flight paths over specific regions to assess noise pollution levels or optimize airspace utilization. For commercial entities, the OpenSky Network offers tiered access to its data, enabling the integration of real-time flight information into logistics platforms, aviation-related services, or specialized mapping applications. Developers building tools for pilots, air traffic controllers, or ground operations can integrate OpenSky data to enhance situational awareness and operational efficiency. The platform's commitment to open data for non-commercial use distinguishes it, providing a valuable resource for innovation without initial financial barriers for research-oriented projects. The data collection process relies on a distributed network of volunteers and institutions, contributing to its global coverage and data density.

Key features

  • Real-time ADS-B Data Access: Provides current aircraft positions, velocities, and other flight parameters via a REST API, updated frequently from the OpenSky Network's global receiver network. This allows for live mapping and monitoring of active flights globally.
  • Historical Flight Data: Offers access to an archive of past flight trajectories and states, enabling retrospective analysis of air traffic patterns, incident investigations, and long-term trend observations. Data can be filtered by time range, aircraft identifier, or geographic area.
  • Aircraft State Vectors: Delivers detailed state vectors for individual aircraft, including ICAO24 address, callsign, origin country, time position, last contact, longitude, latitude, baro altitude, velocity, true track, vertical rate, sensors, geometric altitude, squawk, and SPI (Special Position Identification) flag. This granular data supports detailed analysis of individual flight performance and behavior.
  • Impala Shell Access: For users requiring large-scale data processing or complex queries, OpenSky Network provides direct access to its Impala database via a shell. This allows for advanced analytics and custom data extraction beyond the standard API capabilities, particularly useful for big data research projects.
  • Global Coverage: Data is collected from a distributed network of receivers worldwide, offering broad geographical coverage for air traffic monitoring. Information on network coverage and receiver density is available on the OpenSky Network website.
  • Open Data for Research: The platform emphasizes free access for academic and non-commercial research purposes, fostering innovation and scientific inquiry in aviation.

Pricing

OpenSky Network offers different access tiers based on usage type and data volume. Academic and non-commercial research use is generally free, while commercial applications require a paid subscription.
OpenSky Network Data Access Pricing Summary (as of 2026-05-28)
Tier Description Key Features Pricing
Academic/Research API Access For non-commercial research and educational projects. Limited real-time API requests, historical data access. Free (application required)
Commercial API Access (Small) Commercial use with low data volume requirements. Increased real-time API request limits, historical data. Starting from €50/month (estimated)
Commercial API Access (Medium) Commercial use with moderate data volume requirements. Higher API request limits, more extensive historical data. Contact for quote
Commercial API Access (Large) Commercial use with high data volume or Impala access needs. Highest API request limits, Impala shell access, custom data feeds. Contact for quote
For detailed pricing information and specific data access plans, refer to the official OpenSky Network data access page.

Common integrations

OpenSky Network's data can be integrated into various applications and systems, primarily through its REST API. Common integration scenarios include:
  • Geospatial Information Systems (GIS): Integrating flight data into mapping platforms like ArcGIS to visualize air traffic patterns, analyze flight paths over geographical features, or support urban planning studies. The ArcGIS Developers site offers resources for building mapping applications.
  • Data Visualization Tools: Connecting to business intelligence dashboards or custom visualization applications to display real-time and historical air traffic data for operational monitoring or public display.
  • Aviation Safety Software: Incorporating flight trajectory data into systems designed for incident analysis, near-miss detection, or airspace conflict resolution.
  • Environmental Monitoring Platforms: Using flight data to assess the environmental impact of aviation, such as noise pollution or emissions, by correlating flight paths with ground-level sensors.
  • Logistics and Supply Chain Management: Integrating real-time cargo flight data to track shipments and optimize supply chain operations.
  • Academic Research Platforms: Providing datasets to research environments for statistical analysis, machine learning model training, and simulation of air traffic scenarios.

Alternatives

While OpenSky Network provides a unique open-access model, several commercial and community-driven alternatives exist for flight tracking and air traffic data:
  • FlightAware: A commercial flight tracking service offering real-time and historical flight data, airport status, and flight prediction services, often used by airlines and aviation professionals.
  • Flightradar24: A popular commercial service providing real-time flight tracking on a map, with detailed information about aircraft, routes, and airports, widely used by the general public and enthusiasts.
  • ADSBexchange.com: A community-driven platform offering unfiltered, raw ADS-B data, notable for not blocking military or private aircraft, appealing to enthusiasts and researchers seeking comprehensive data.

Getting started

To get started with the OpenSky Network API, you can make unauthenticated requests for basic real-time data or apply for an account for more extensive access, especially for historical data or commercial use. The following Python example demonstrates how to fetch current aircraft states from the OpenSky Network API. First, ensure you have the `requests` library installed (`pip install requests`). python import requests import json # OpenSky Network API endpoint for all states # For unauthenticated access, this endpoint provides a limited number of states. # For full access and historical data, authentication (username/password) is required. # See the OpenSky Network API documentation for details on authenticated requests. api_url = "https://opensky-network.org/api/states/all" try: response = requests.get(api_url) response.raise_for_status() # Raise an HTTPError for bad responses (4xx or 5xx) data = response.json() if data and data['states']: print("Successfully retrieved aircraft states.") print(f"Timestamp: {data['time']}") print(f"Number of aircraft states received: {len(data['states'])}") # Print details for the first 5 aircraft as an example print("\n--- First 5 Aircraft States ---") for i, state in enumerate(data['states'][:5]): icao24 = state[0] # ICAO 24-bit address callsign = state[1].strip() if state[1] else "N/A" # Callsign origin_country = state[2] # Country of origin longitude = state[5] # Longitude latitude = state[6] # Latitude baro_altitude = state[7] # Barometric altitude in meters velocity = state[9] # Ground speed in m/s print(f"Aircraft {i+1}:") print(f" ICAO24: {icao24}") print(f" Callsign: {callsign}") print(f" Origin Country: {origin_country}") print(f" Position: ({latitude}, {longitude})") print(f" Altitude: {baro_altitude} m") print(f" Velocity: {velocity} m/s") print("------------------------------") else: print("No aircraft states found or data is empty.") except requests.exceptions.RequestException as e: print(f"An error occurred during the API request: {e}") except json.JSONDecodeError: print("Failed to decode JSON response. The API might have returned non-JSON data.") except Exception as e: print(f"An unexpected error occurred: {e}")