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Getting started

Getting Started

The SafeSky API is accessible via a standard REST API, enabling seamless integration with your applications. To start using the API:

  1. Get an API Key:
    Visit SafeSky and subscribe to the desired plan.

  2. Make API Calls:
    Use the endpoints provided, including the appropriate parameters in your requests. All responses are returned in JSON format.

  3. Authentication:
    Authentication is automatically managed when making requests with your API key.
    Important: Never disclose your API key and take all necessary security measures to protect it.

Model Definition

1. UAV Model

The UAV model represents the structure and attributes of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) as captured in the SafeSky system.

FieldTypeRequiredDescription
idstringYesThe unique identifier of the UAV.
latitudedoubleYesLatitude in decimal degrees.
longitudedoubleYesLongitude in decimal degrees.
altitudeintYesHeight of the UAV in meters, based on GPS altitude AMSL.
altitudeAccuracyintNoAccuracy level of the altitude coordinate in meters.
accuracyintNoAccuracy level of the latitude and longitude coordinates in meters.
callSignstringNoUAV call-sign.
groundSpeedintNoCurrent ground speed of the UAV, specified in meters per second.
courseintNoDirection of travel, specified in degrees counting clockwise relative to the true north.
statusstringNoThe current status of the UAV. Allowable values: INACTIVE, AIRBORNE, GROUNDED.
lastUpdatelongYesThe time of the event in seconds since epoch at UTC-0.
turnRatefloatNoTurn rate in degrees per second.
verticalRateintNoVertical rate in meters per second. A positive value indicates climbing, a negative value indicates descent.

2. Beacon Model

The Beacon model defines the structure of an aircraft beacon, including its attributes and behavior.

FieldTypeRequiredDescription
idstringYesThe unique identifier of the beacon.
latitudedoubleYesLatitude in decimal degrees.
longitudedoubleYesLongitude in decimal degrees.
altitudeintYesHeight of the beacon in meters, based on GPS altitude AMSL.
altitudeAccuracyintNoAccuracy level of the altitude coordinate in meters.
accuracyintNoAccuracy level of the latitude and longitude coordinates in meters.
callSignstringNoBeacon call-sign, available only if the pilot has a public profile.
groundSpeedintYesCurrent ground speed of the beacon, specified in meters per second.
courseintYesDirection of travel, specified in degrees counting clockwise relative to the true north.
statusstringNoThe current status of the beacon. Allowable values: INACTIVE, AIRBORNE, GROUNDED.
lastUpdatelongYesThe time of the event in seconds since epoch at UTC-0.
turnRatefloatNoTurn rate in degrees per second.
verticalRateintNoVertical rate in meters per second. A positive value indicates climbing, a negative value indicates descent.
beaconTypestringNoThe type of the beacon. Allowable values: UNKNOWN, GLIDER, PARA_GLIDER, HAND_GLIDER, HELICOPTER, UAV, etc.
transponderTypestringNoThe type of transponder broadcasting the position. Allowable values: ADS-BI, FLARM, ADS-B, etc.

Endpoints Overview

1. Get Nearby Aircraft

Endpoint: GET /uav
Description:
Retrieve a list of airborne aircraft within a specific radius and altitude range from the given latitude and longitude. By default, the search radius is 10,000 meters, with a maximum of 20,000 meters.

Query Parameters:

Parameter Type Required Description Default
lat double Yes Latitude in decimal degrees (4 decimal precision). N/A
lng double Yes Longitude in decimal degrees (4 decimal precision). N/A
alt_min int No Filter all aircraft below the given altitude in meters. Zero means 'unused'. 0
alt_max int No Filter all aircraft above the given altitude in meters. Zero means 'unused'. 0
rad int No Radius in meters from the reference point (maximum: 20,000 meters). 10,000

Response:

  • 200 OK: Returns a list of nearby aircraft.
  • 400 BAD REQUEST: Invalid parameters or failed authentication.

Example Request:

GET /uav?latitude=48.8588&longitude=2.2943&altitude_min=1000&altitude_max=3000&radius=15000

Example Response:

[
     {
        "latitude": 48.86584,
        "longitude": 2.63723,
        "beacon_type": "JET",
        "call_sign": "IBE06CK",
        "transponder_type": "ADS-B",
        "last_update": 1733412793,
        "altitude": 10554,
        "vertical_rate": 2,
        "accuracy": 0,
        "altitude_accuracy": 0,
        "course": 205,
        "ground_speed": 237,
        "turn_rate": 0.0,
        "status": "AIRBORNE",
        "id": "3423C3"
    },
    {
        "latitude": 48.95459,
        "longitude": 2.44153,
        "beacon_type": "JET",
        "call_sign": "NJE419F",
        "transponder_type": "ADS-B",
        "last_update": 1733412793,
        "altitude": 0,
        "vertical_rate": 0,
        "accuracy": 0,
        "altitude_accuracy": 0,
        "course": 292,
        "ground_speed": 0,
        "turn_rate": 0.0,
        "status": "GROUNDED",
        "id": "494105"
    }
]

2. Publish UAV and Get Nearby Aircraft

Endpoint: POST /uav
Description:
Publishes one or many UAV position to the SafeSky platform. Optionally, it's returning a list of nearby aircraft for each UAV position within a radius of 10000 meters.

Request Body:

Field Type Required Description
id string Yes Unique identifier for the UAV.
latitude double Yes Latitude in decimal degrees (4 decimal precision).
longitude double Yes Longitude in decimal degrees (4 decimal precision).
altitude int Yes Altitude of the UAV in meters.
groundSpeed int Yes Ground speed of the UAV in meters per second.
course int Yes Direction of travel in degrees clockwise relative to true north.
status string Yes Current status of the UAV (INACTIVE, AIRBORNE, GROUNDED).

Query Parameters:

Parameter Type Required Description Default
alt_min int No Filter all aircraft below the given altitude in meters. Zero means 'unused'. 0
alt_max int No Filter all aircraft above the given altitude in meters. Zero means 'unused'. 0
return_nearby_traffic boolean No Return information about aircraft traffic within proximity of the UAV positions. false

Additional query Parameters when show_nearby_traffic = true:

Parameter Type Required Description Default
rad int No Radius distance in meters from all UAV reference point (maximum: 20000 meters). 10000
return_grounded_traffic boolean No Include grounded beacons. false

Response:

  • 201 CREATED: UAV published successfully; returns a list of nearby aircraft.
  • 400 BAD REQUEST: Invalid parameters or failed authentication.

Example POST Request:

POST /uav?altitude_min=1000&altitude_max=3000&radius=15000
Content-Type: application/json

[
    {
        "id": "UAV123",
        "status": "AIRBORNE",
        "altitude": 180,
        "course": 250,
        "ground_speed": 24,
        "latitude": 50.69378,
        "longitude": 4.39201,
        "call_sign": "FlyingFrog"
    }
]

Similar response as Get Nearby Aircraft will be returned.

Support

For assistance or further inquiries, please contact us at support@safesky.app or visit our website.

Disclaimer

SafeSky is a non-certified eConspicuity platform that collects and shares information provided by a voluntary and unstructured community of pilots and ground stations. Therefore, no data accuracy, comprehensiveness, nor permanent transmission can be guaranteed while using the API.

The main purpose of the software is to remind and support everybody’s personal duty to ‘See, Be Seen and Avoid’ when flying, i.e., to look out at all times.

Hence, SafeSky can in no way be held liable for any event happening during the flight.

While SafeSky provides significantly more flight traffic information than a single system or no system at all, it will not show everything. Visibility can be affected by factors like pilots not using a detection device, limited ground station coverage, poor internet, or poor GPS quality.

Before using this API, you must have read and agreed to the Terms And Conditions.

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