Sailplane Tracking

Sailplane Tracking:

There are quite a few websites which display live OGN/Flarm™ data on maps.  A few examples are:

The popular websites used with the OGN network show very limited historical data, generally an hour or less.

flightbook.glidernet.org can be  helpful for Search and Rescue (SAR) as it has a full flight track and IGC file download available for 24 hours (IGC file viewer). In the event of a plane going missing, see the SAR section of: wiki.glidernet.org/sar for information on accessing OGN and other data for SAR.

OGN

OGN is the Open Glider Network: OGN Wiki: OGN generally relies on small receivers scattered about within range of the Flarm™ devices or OGN trackers installed in gliders. While there is great coverage of Europe with OGN, there are fewer in the USA and coverage is more localized.

There is a Raspberry Pi based OGN receiver located in the OCGP upstairs backoffice which contributes its data to the OGN.

OGN registration - glidernet.org

Registering at glidernet allows adding Device type (use "ICAO"), Device ID (use ICAO code), Aircraft type, Regist. (registration), and CN (Competition Number) to OGN so many OGN websites can provide details about the device being tracked. 

Flarm™:

Flarm™ is an aircraft to aircraft collision avoidance system. Many sailplanes are  equipped with Flarm™ devices however Flarm™ devices do not "see" most sailplanes not equipped with  Flarm™.  Most Flarm™ devices can be configured as ADS-B In receivers to include collision avoidance with ADS-B Out equipped aircraft. Flarm™ devices can also receive signals from Mode C/S transponders, however as these only provide distance/altitude data, collision avoidance is not very good (usually a ring is displayed). Many contests and large camps in the USA now require sailplanes to be Flarm™ equipped.

Flarm™ devices do not  have displays (except for the Flarm™ portable).  Flarm™ displays are available and many sailplane flight computers can be configured to display Flarm™ data.  To facilitate the rapid exchange of information between Flarm™ devices, there is very little identifying information included in the signals beyond the Flarm™ ID / ICAO identifier configured in the device during setup.

FLARM registration - flarmnet.org

Registering a Flarm™ at flarmnet allows adding Radio id (use ICAO code), Pilot name, Aircraft type, Registration, Competition id, Radio frequency, Region and specifying Livetracking to the flarmnet database. The flarmnet database can then be downloaded from flarmnet.org a regular basis and added to Flarm™ displays and flight computers so they can display more data about a target.  

Personal Trackers (SPOT and InReach):

SPOT and InReach (Garmin) sell personal GPS based trackers that can easily be used by sailplane pilots.  Both have services which provide a personal website that displays map based tracking information.  The trackers have an SOS feature and some models have various abilities to send and receive short messages via text and/or e-mail through their GPS satellite system. Useful to send takeoff, landing and landout information.

GlidePort.aero has been used to show locations of multiple gliders from pilots who registered their SPOT or InReach tracking devices.  This was also integrated with the SSA website.  However, the GlidePort.aero system has had some difficulties with the evolution of these trackers resulting in difficulties in registering trackers and the website appears to no longer be maintained.

ADS-B Out:

As of January 1, 2020 the FAA has required most aircraft to have ADS-B Out (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast) capabilities for flights above 10,000 feet.  There is an ADS-B Out exemption for gliders (FAR 91.225), similar to the Mode C exemption for gliders (FAR 91.215). ADS-B Out provides aircraft identification, position, altitude and velocity to other aircraft and ATC. Some sailplane owners have chosen to install ADS-B Out for various safety reasons including use by TCAS (Traffic Collision Avoidance System) equipped aircraft. 

There is a Raspberry Pi based ADS-B receiver located in the OCGP clubhouse and the computer there can display the signals it receives.  The data is is also contributed to the FlightAware database.

Using SPOT and InReach trackers with OGN

All sailplanes do not have a Flarm™ and an OGN receiver may be blocked by terrain or out of range.  In these cases if a sailplane pilot has a SPOT or InReach tracker it would be good to have that tracker data included in the OGN.  As the OGN is "open for integration of other flying objects tracking data sources", D. Chappins has built a service where SPOT and InReach device data is made visible on the OGN.  The instructions to check, add, update and remove a tracker from his service are at:

SPOT
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSccPXV0oodK61ykTkbtIV9yJK3A1VTwv2Me4Ng4COK_zUXKYg/viewform

InReach
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfi-6IN45EE0BnSlbjVK16uslzCu5jTAY6eRxpdazYoedRzEg/viewform 

It may take a bit for the tracking information to show up on-line.

ADS-B out glider traffic data on OGN

D. Chappins built a service to make glider ADS-B out data visible on the OGN.  In a nutshell this service listens to ADS-B out and OGN data.  If a glider position is seen in the ADS-B data but not the OGN data, the ADS-B data is pushed to the OGN. For more details see the readme on his github site.

Note: What are all these identifiers?

Updated 05/05/2024