Airspace Explorer is a flight tracking and airspace education app. It has been developed by NATS (the UK’s leading provider of Air Traffic Control services) in partnership with AirNav Systems (the global flight data provider) and supported by AirTeamImages – the aviation images library.
NATS is the UK’s leading provider of Air Traffic Control Services. Each year we handle over 2.2 million flights and 220 million passengers in UK airspace.
Airspace Explorer is the lite version of a more comprehensive data and feature rich app that we use at NATS to help with operational awareness. We thought that a lite version of our internal app might be of interest to the general public and be helpful in explaining some of the concepts underpinning Air Traffic Control.
The app lets you explore airspace all over the world, discover flights and tap into a wealth of information about airspace, airports, aircraft and airlines.
Spin the 3D globe to explore the world, with over 10,000 live flights for you watch in both 2D and 3D modes. Simply tap a plane to discover information for that flight, including departure and destination, location, flight number, airline, altitude, speed and aircraft type.
Tap an airport to see live data including arrival and departure boards, airborne flights, satellite photos and the current weather at that location.
Explore the airspace over the UK and learn more about the invisible infrastructure underpinning air traffic management. Investigate the different types of controlled and uncontrolled airspace structures in some of the busiest and most complex skies in the world.
We hope you enjoy playing with Airspace Explorer and learning a little more about the wonders of modern aviation.
To find out more, visit: http://nats.aero/AirspaceExplorer
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NATS FAQ
Is NATS free?
Yes, NATS is completely free and it doesn't have any in-app purchases or subscriptions.
Is NATS legit?
🤔 The NATS app's quality is mixed. Some users are satisfied, while others report issues. Consider reading individual reviews for more context.
Looks great, but it is not showing the helicopter that I can see flying right in front of me. Flightradar24, however, DOES show it, plus two other helicopters nearby that are also missing from this app..
The 3D view is a complete mess.
Needs work.
Terrible, inconsistent and often wrong
This app is completely useless for tracking flights. Shockingly poor user interface, search that doesn’t work, oceanic flights that are all in completely the wrong place, etc. etc.
Don’t expect to be able to find, track and follow any flight.
Pointlessly inccurate and incomplete.
free but useless
app not showing any aircraft at all (anywhere) - reloaded app three times still nothing. On ipadOS 17.2.
Incredible airspace visualisation! 🛩️
This is a really useful aeronautical tool for visualising airspace. Through its ability to switch between 2D and 3D it allows you to really appreciate the volumetric nature of airspace classification, categorisation and usage (while monitoring real time air traffic)!
It’s also beautifully designed and developed and is responsive too, whilst remaining intuitive to understand and explore, and features integrated supporting information via access to the NATS website.
I really appreciate having access to this incredible software as a professional UAV pilot and someone who is obsessed with all things flight, technology, and training as it opens your eyes to the complex labyrinth of activity in the skies above - an incredible tool!
Excellent, free app
The functionality and stability of this app has exceeded my expectations so far. As a microlight pilot under training, it has been extremely useful, as well as allowing me to learn about aviation more generally. I hope it continues to get NATS support, so that it stays fresh and current. Highly reccomended!
great app
better than flight radar24
Dave
Nice app but no photos of the aircraft
Enjoyable
Incredible app, but very very buggy to the point of frustration. Half the time the’ trails’ don’t appear, then they spread out all over the screen, planes disappear, so annoying. I understand it’s beta but still very frustratingly buggy that it forces me to use other apps, which is a shame because I love the NATS app out of all the other ones. Please fix those disappearing trails PLEASE. Thank you
Using google firebase to track users
Update: Thanks for the clarification and personal response. I have to say the app is much easier to use now than in previous times, well done!
Previous comments:
Search in iOS Settings for firebase. See that this is one app (JustEat is another) that is tracking via google. Please remove this to get your stars back.
Wrong airport
Always use this when aircraft are overhead arriving or leaving Newcastle airport U.K. Unfortunately you have changed Newcastle airport to Comlantflt heliport Norfolk United States.
Any chance of correcting this.
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