Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Go back to full flight status system details
Who should use GAFlightStatus.com?
Any pilot, company, organization, or agency worldwide who has a need or desire to easily publish flight status information. As a result, our services are used by individuals, organizations, charter companies, air taxis, corporations, Part 135 operators, and many other aviation-related entities. We believe that real time flight tracking, paging, text message
alerts, email notifications, and other technologies that the major airlines use should be just as accessible to all other members of the aviation community. With GAFlightStatus.com, even individual pilots and enthusiasts have the ability to command a real flight status system.
In addition, we also recognize the important role that general aviation plays worldwide. For example, in the United States,
the FAA reports nearly 10,000 GA (general aviation) airports/heliports exist. The FAA also estimates that 98% of the population lives within 20 miles of at least one GA airport. However, in order for the general public to be comfortable using general aviation for transit, airports and aircraft operators alike must deliver at least the same services and features
that passengers are used to receiving from the major airlines.
How much does it cost to use GAFlightStatus.com?
For pilots, air taxis, charters, organizations, etc. $19.99 per month, per aircraft (no per-flight fees)
For passengers, customers, friends, family, and others who might be accessing or searching for the flight status information, the service is free. Text message notifications and email alerts are also free. However, your mobile phone carrier may charge you if you choose to receive mobile SMS/text message alerts.
How and where can I update my flight status information?
You can update your flight status information from virtually anywhere! The most common way to update flight status information is simply to login
to your account on GAFlightStatus.com. In your flight console, you have the ability to change flight status, departure and arrival times, origin and
destination information, schedules, as well as other information. All GAFlightStatus.com tools are available from any internet-connected computer with
a web browser, worldwide. WiFi, wireless, mobile broadband, cellular internet, and other internet connections will all work well with GAFlightStatus.com.
Our tools are even optimized to work with web-enabled cell phones or mobile devices via www.gafs.mobi, giving
any aviation organization unparalleled mobile flight status updating ability. With all of these connection options, pilots and staff can update flight status information from anywhere, even from inside the aircraft.
This works internationally, and across borders? How is aircraft position derived?
For aircraft tracking, the GAFlightStatus.com system can obtain position data using any of the following methods, whichever works best for you, and you can instantly switch between any of these as needed.
1) It can use ATC/radar position data, where available.
2) It can obtain your actual position data via any one of the numerous commercially-available onboard aviation tracking devices, such as Skytrax, Spidertracks, SPOT, Iridium, Honeywell, etc.
3) It can calculate approximate aircraft position based on info you provide.
4) It can display actual position based on regular or frequent updates from your pilots, crew, or dispatching staff.
How many aircraft can I have in my account?
As many aircraft licenses as you choose to purchase, from one to thousands. There is no restriction on the total number of aircraft that you can have in your account, but your monthly license fee may change depending on the number of aircraft in your account. See the costs section above for more details.
How many pilots can I have in my account?
As many as you wish, with no per-pilot costs. Currently, there is no restriction on the number of pilots that you can have in your account. Regardless of the number of aircraft in your account, you can create as many pilot identities as you like.
What do you mean by a "status display"? What is a FIDS display?
A "status board" refers to the types of flight status screens you may have seen in the largest international airports, which
display real-time flight departure and arrivals information on monitors for passengers to view. In the aviation industry, you may hear these being referred to as
flight information display systems (FIDS) or multi use flight information display systems (MUFIDS). GAFlightStatus.com gives you
the ability to create these status boards with just a computer monitor, LCD, TFT, or plasma display and the click of a mouse.
For example, in each GAFlightStatus.com
account, members can access a page which contains many different types of flight status screens. By simply launching a screen, and then maximizing
it to fill the entire screen, any pilot, airport, FBO, charter company, or other entity can have the same flight information display functionality
as the largest airports. The status screens automatically update themselves with the latest data every few seconds. Each GAFlightStatus.com account also
receives "dashboard" displays, which provide a broader scope of information, such as flight status info, upcoming flights, staff information, personnel availability,
and other operational data. These can be used in your operations center, dispatching area, offices, and more.
What are common scenarios and examples for organizations using GAFlightStatus.com?
For example, you might be
a charter or air taxi service who carries passengers,
but does not have a dedicated dispatching staff. You can
schedule flights into our system, which are then viewable by
any customer. During the reservation process, you can
also schedule customers to receive updates if the flight
status changes or delays occur. Once the flight
actually happens, as part of a checklist you can accurately
post during the different phases of flight that you are on
time, boarding, delayed, in flight, arrived, or even
cancelled. This information is immediately updated and
available on your own website.
You can also instantly launch our flight information display system (FIDS) or multi user flight information display system (MUFIDS). Many different types of status board displays are available, which allow smaller airports, FBOs, or facilities to recreate the status board displays of larger international hubs. A simple LCD monitor, flat panel monitor, or plasma display and web browser can provide an at-a-glance picture of aircraft operations, or the information can be broken down by departures, arrivals, aircraft, or status for a more comprehensive view on multiple screens. A fleet status dashboard screen is also available for tracking all of your organization's aircraft in an office or flight operations center.
You might be an FBO,
rental company, or even a corporate flight department,
and want to know the status of your aircraft. Our system
displays departure times, arrival times, percentage of trip
complete, location, schedule revisions, and cancellation
reasons. It also calculates performance statistics regarding delays and on-time percentage.
You might even be a
private pilot with your own (or rented) aircraft. Have
fun with the ability to create commercial-level status
information, while at the same time providing an
informative, easy-to-understand way of letting your friends
and family know where you are and what you are doing.
What do you mean by "widgets" and how can I use them?
Widgets (also known as magnets) are small pieces of computer code that allow individuals to easily syndicate
content from one website into another without having to manually update the information. For example, you may
have commonly seen blogs or airport websites that have weather widgets on them, displaying the current temperature
and other atmospheric conditions automatically. GAFlightStatus.com utilizes the power of these "widgets" to provide
customers with the ability to put real-time flight status information on their own website. Information is pulled from
GAFlightStatus.com, and is constantly updated. This allows our member
pilots, organizations, and companies to have constantly updated GAFlightStatus.com information on their existing websites,
without having to direct their passengers to another website.
We are ready to go with the GAFlightStatus.com system. Where do I sign up?
Simply click here to sign up immediately. Accounts are created instantaneously, with no waiting.
How can I get more information, get assistance, or get a question clarified?
Contact us at sales@meridixcreative.com today, or call us directly at (if outside the United States, please use country code +01) (630) 300-8747.
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