Google Earth gets flight tracking in as close to real time as legally possible

Google Earth gets flight tracking in as close to real time as legally possible

Filed under: Utilities, Web services, Google

Google Earth's most awesome new layer lets you dynamically track any airline flight over the United States in real time. Well, not quite real time. For security reasons, the FAA doesn't allow live flight tracking, so Google's info is 15 or 20 minutes behind the actual planes. Still, the data (provided by Flightwise.com and the FAA) is very interesting.

The flight tracking layer adds up to more than just looking at a plane on the globe. You can also click on any flight to get detailed info, and you can even download the entire flight path. Combine it with Google Earth's weather layer, and you might even be able to see the causes of some of those flight delays. There are easier ways to find out when your mom's flight gets in, but I don't think I've seen a cooler way.

Google Earth gets flight tracking in as close to real time as legally possible originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 17 Sep 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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