Tracking a plane by tail number
Tracking a plane by tail number
Author
Discussion

Vytalis

Original Poster:

1,744 posts

193 months

Monday 26th November 2012
quotequote all
Hi all, I'd like to pick the collective brains of the PH flying section. Is there a way to track a private plane by the tail number, finding where it is hangared and where it takes off / lands?

Many thanks

Eric Mc

125,606 posts

294 months

Monday 26th November 2012
quotequote all
Stop - you might become a plane spotter by accident.

The CAA website can tell you certain aspects of an aircraft.

The book "Civil Aircraft Markings" will tell you in many cases where an aircraft is based.

However, tracking an individual aircraft's movements from airfield to airfield would be difficult to do because, as far as I know, there is no one database that shows the movements of one single aircraft.

However, spotters groups and forums probably do list movements for various airfields (as the old spotters' magazines used to do back in the days when I was an ardent spotter). So I suppose manipulation of such a set of airfield movements could allow you to work out where particular aircraft have been over any given period of time.

By the way, I presume you are talking about the UK. In the UK, civil aircraft registrations are not referred to as "tail numbers", as civil markings are more often than not displayed on the fuselage sides as opposed to on the tailfin.

eharding

14,648 posts

313 months

Monday 26th November 2012
quotequote all

Oi, oi - stalker alert.

Vytalis

Original Poster:

1,744 posts

193 months

Monday 26th November 2012
quotequote all
Thanks, it never ceases to amaze me the depth and breadth of PH knowledge.

mrloudly

2,815 posts

264 months

Monday 26th November 2012
quotequote all
G-INFO

Pisses me off immensely!!!


Eric Mc

125,606 posts

294 months

Monday 26th November 2012
quotequote all
mrloudly said:
G-INFO

Pisses me off immensely!!!
Why?

mrloudly

2,815 posts

264 months

Monday 26th November 2012
quotequote all
I've had people knocking on my door asking to see G-BVUV when it was just a kit (Spotters)

And why do I want my details available to all and sundry just because I own an aircraft?

What about data protection?

Eric Mc

125,606 posts

294 months

Monday 26th November 2012
quotequote all
mrloudly said:
I've had people knocking on my door asking to see G-BVUV when it was just a kit (Spotters)

And why do I want my details available to all and sundry just because I own an aircraft?

What about data protection?
OK - I was just wondering. Some people are idiots. I used to "spot" aeroplanes but I would never have dreamt of imposing myself on someone just to "see" something.

mrloudly

2,815 posts

264 months

Monday 26th November 2012
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
mrloudly said:
I've had people knocking on my door asking to see G-BVUV when it was just a kit (Spotters)

And why do I want my details available to all and sundry just because I own an aircraft?

What about data protection?
OK - I was just wondering. Some people are idiots. I used to "spot" aeroplanes but I would never have dreamt of imposing myself on someone just to "see" something.
Three separate lots I had turn up, not that I minded, but I do object to it in principle.

There have been several well documented incidents of locals damaging aircraft at airfields. Many folk now register their aircraft to a company or use a business address
to distance themselves from direct "fruitcake" access. Fair enough G-INFO showing aircraft details but the owner should not be in the public domain.

I've heard stories of the press turning up at peoples homes after fatals before the police... Not good...


MitchT

17,114 posts

238 months

Monday 26th November 2012
quotequote all
Some private planes show up on flightradar24.com - if you type the tail number into the search box you might catch it flying.

Eric Mc

125,606 posts

294 months

Monday 26th November 2012
quotequote all
MitchT said:
Some private planes show up on flightradar24.com - if you type the tail number into the search box you might catch it flying.
Not many. Mostly biz jets.