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Drone or plane? check the flight patterns

Several apps allow users to identify aircraft

By: Manahil Ahmad
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network - New Jersey

..... Recent reports of drones flying over New Jersey at night have sparked safety and privacy concerns, but experts suggest that many sightings may not involve drones at all. According to the White House, many of these sightings involve manned aircraft operating lawfully.
..... To help reduce confusion, several apps, including Flighttradar24, Plane Finder and FlightAware, allow users to identify aircraft in real time. These tools provide detailed information about what's flying overhead, including commercial and private planes, helicopters and, in some cases, drones.
.....The apps sue a combination of data form aircraft transmission, satellites and ground stations to display a map of air traffic in a given area. Users can see details about altitude, speed, destination, and even airline codes or reregistration numbers for private plane. They can zoom in on their location topee what's up in the skies at that moment.
..... Some apps also identify unmanned aircraft, such as commercial drones, if they are signaling tier location using technology similar to that of planes.
..... The technology behind these apps relies on Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast, or ADS-B, a system that transmits an aircraft's position and other fight details.
..... As drones become more common, experts say, these tools can help the public distinguish between drones and other aircraft, reducing unnecessary concerns and improving awareness of airspace activity.

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