8 - How does it work?
1. How does it work?
Connecting pilots, drones, and professionals into one shared sky.
More than 100,000 pilots have access to the SafeSky app to improve their situational awareness.
Your mobile device becomes an Internet transponder: it securely shares your position and receives those of nearby aircraft in real time — no additional hardware required.
While in flight, the SafeSky app displays surrounding traffic on a moving map or radar view and warns you of potential conflicts, even when other pilots use traditional eConspicuity systems such as ADS-B, Mode-S, ADS-L, or FLARM.
By merging data from over 30 traffic sources, SafeSky makes it possible for all types of aircraft to see and be seen, enhancing flight safety for everyone.
This approach also adds several thousand additional pilots to the overall airspace visibility picture, creating a more complete and cooperative traffic environment.
2. The SafeSky Network
Where all traffic meets.
Behind every SafeSky flight is a digital infrastructure that continuously merges live air-traffic data from numerous networks, connecting aircraft, drones, and ground systems into one shared information network.
This includes ground-based receivers, airborne transceivers, and mobile devices acting as Internet transponders, which together provide a real-time and bi-directional view of the airspace.
Through partnerships with networks such as Open Glider Network (OGN), ADSB.fi, Avionix Aero-Network, and other community receivers, data from thousands of ground stations across Europe is continuously received, verified, and redistributed to pilots.
SafeSky integrates information from a wide variety of broadcast systems, connected apps, and onboard devices, transforming them into a unified traffic picture accessible to every pilot.
This ensures that, regardless of the equipment or technology used, all aircraft are represented consistently within the same situational-awareness network.
Beyond pilots: the same fused traffic picture is also shared with professional operators (e.g. HEMS, search & rescue) and drone ecosystems, enabling mutual awareness and safer coordination at low level.
For a detailed overview of all supported systems and integrations, see the “Connected systems and applications” section below.
3. How it all connects
From air to ground to cloud.
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Your aircraft transmits its position
SafeSky uses your mobile device via LTE — or one of the compatible systems such as PowerFLARM, SkyEcho 2, or ADS-B transponders — to share your real-time position with the SafeSky network.
An active internet connection (mobile data or Wi-Fi) is required to send and receive traffic information. -
In addition, ground stations collect external signals
Thousands of receivers across Europe continuously capture ADS-B, FLARM, FANET, ADS-L, and Mode-S transmissions from nearby aircraft and feed them into the SafeSky cloud. -
The SafeSky cloud network fuses and validates all data
In real time, the SafeSky servers combine user data with inputs from more than 30 partner networks.
The system automatically removes duplicate tracks, recalibrates altitudes to a common reference, synchronises timestamps to minimise latency, and applies consistency checks to ensure accurate and reliable positioning. -
Traffic is redistributed to every participant
Each connected pilot, drone operator, or professional user instantly receives an updated view of all surrounding traffic — regardless of which technology the others are using. -
Professional systems consume the same feed
Air-rescue, police, and drone-coordination platforms receive the same unified SafeSky data stream for improved situational awareness and mission planning.
The SafeSky network is designed for situational awareness, not for tactical deconfliction.
Its purpose is to help all airspace users understand who is nearby and enhance cooperative safety.
4. Latency and update rates
Understanding data refresh timing across different systems.
Traffic-data refresh rates depend mainly on the original source of the signal, not on SafeSky’s cloud infrastructure.
- Native SafeSky integrations — such as the SafeSky App or connected navigation software — typically update positions every second.
- External surveillance sources — such as ADS-B or FLARM networks — generally have a 2–3 second delay.
- Free-flight trackers — used by paragliders and paramotors — often update every 30 seconds, reflecting their lower airspeed and device design.
These variations are expected and acceptable: faster update sources provide near real-time tracking, while slower ones remain sufficient for situational awareness at lower speeds.
Even with higher latencies, the information remains valuable to identify traffic clusters or activity zones that should be avoided rather than used for precise tactical positioning.
5. What will you see?
Traffic information from many aircraft classes.
The SafeSky App displays nearby traffic on a live map or radar-style view.
Each aircraft symbol represents real-time position data merged from various aviation networks and devices, allowing pilots to recognise surrounding traffic regardless of its equipment type.
You may see gliders, ultralights, helicopters, paramotors, drones, or general-aviation aircraft — all updated dynamically as SafeSky synchronises inputs from its network.
SafeSky visualises traffic originating from three main categories of sources:
5.1 Standard surveillance systems
Used mainly by certified and general-aviation aircraft:
- ADS-B — Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast, transmitting position via 1090 MHz
- Mode-S (MLAT) — Secondary radar transponders whose positions are calculated through multilateration
- ADS-L / ADS-L for Mobile — LTE-based data exchange for connected avionics or mobile devices
5.2 Non-standard air-to-air systems
Used predominantly in the recreational and light-aviation community:
- FLARM — Proximity and collision-avoidance network used by gliders and light aircraft
- FANET — Mesh network for paragliders and ultralights sharing local position data
- Flying Neurons, Microtrack, OGN Tracker, PilotAware — Community protocols and devices extending local visibility
5.3 Additional integrated sources
Other devices and applications contributing to the traffic picture include:
- Portable hardware — e.g. SkyEcho 2, PowerFLARM Fusion, Levil BOM, FlyMaster, Syride, SkyTraxx
- Navigation and free-flight apps — e.g. EasyVFR, Air Navigation Pro, XC-Track, Gaggle, eVario
- Drone systems — e.g. SafeSky Inside API, DroneTag, DroneSense
5.4 How traffic appears in the SafeSky App
On the SafeSky map or radar view, each aircraft is represented by a symbol whose colour and label indicate altitude and relative movement.
Nearby aircraft are displayed with short trend vectors showing their direction and estimated speed.
When another aircraft is on a potential converging path, the app generates a visual and audible proximity alert.
Pilots can adjust their visibility radius, altitude filter, and display layers to focus on the traffic most relevant to their current flight profile.
When a connection is lost or an aircraft stops transmitting its signal, the traffic symbol remains temporarily visible.
A circle of uncertainty appears around the last known position, representing the area where the aircraft could potentially be based on its previous velocity and direction.
If no new data is received after 45 seconds, the aircraft is automatically removed from the display and from the network until it transmits again.
When SafeSky data is displayed on third-party systems or navigation software, the way traffic appears may vary from system to system.
Some applications or avionics use different icons, colours, or alert logic depending on their interface.
Pilots should always refer to the user manual of their chosen application or onboard system to understand how SafeSky traffic is represented in that specific environment.
Performance and limitations:
- SafeSky typically achieves around 80 % transmission success up to 5 000 ft AGL, depending on mobile coverage.
- Coverage may be reduced in mountainous or remote areas.
- Because not all aircraft broadcast or share their position, SafeSky should always be used as a situational-awareness aid, not as a collision-avoidance system.
6. What you fly – What you use
Choose your aircraft category.
🪂 Free flyers & light aircraft
Paramotor, paraglider, trike
Your smartphone alone makes you visible to other aircraft — no transponder required.
- SafeSky App (iOS / Android)
- FANET receivers
- ADS-L rebroadcast
Why it matters: You can finally “see and be seen” even when flying without certified avionics.
🛩️ GA, Ultralight (LSA) & Gyrocopter
SafeSky connects seamlessly with your navigation tools and traffic devices.
- SafeSky App + SafeSky Inside® integration
- EasyVFR · Air Navigation Pro · SkyDemon
- PowerFLARM Fusion · SkyEcho 2 · PilotAware
Why it matters: You benefit from the most complete traffic picture available in VFR flight today.
🚁 Helicopters & professional operators
Used by air-rescue and law-enforcement crews for low-level missions.
- SafeSky App Pro
- PowerFLARM Fusion · PilotAware
- ADS-L and FLARM integration
Why it matters: SafeSky enhances crew awareness during complex operations and approach phases.
Partners: ADAC · Rega · Air Glaciers · Sjöfartsverket
🛸 Drone operators & authorities
SafeSky Inside® extends the same traffic picture to unmanned aviation.
- SafeSky Inside® API
- Dronetag (Remote ID)
- DroneSense · DroneMatrix and other UTM systems
Why it matters: Drones and pilots share the same real-time view, preventing conflicts and enabling safe integration into U-space.
7. Trusted by aviation professionals
More and more professional aviation organisations across Europe have integrated SafeSky into their operational systems to complement their existing onboard visibility and traffic-awareness solutions.
These operators not only receive SafeSky’s unified traffic picture, but also share the position of their aircraft, helicopters, and drones, contributing to a cooperative airspace environment.
Across Europe, air-rescue, police, and government services use SafeSky as part of their daily operations to enhance situational awareness and mission safety.
Partners include ADAC Luftrettung, Rega, Air Glaciers, Sjöfartsverket, the Norwegian Police Air Support Unit, Sécurité Civile, SMURD Romania, and EASA (through the ADS-L initiative).
These partnerships demonstrate how this interoperability benefits all airspace users, by complementing existing eConspicuity systems and enabling safer coordination between professional and recreational aviation.
8. Privacy and data protection
Control over what others see.
SafeSky is designed with privacy by default.
Pilots can choose between two visibility modes — Public or Private — depending on how much information they wish to share with other users.
| Profile type | Description |
|---|---|
| PUBLIC | • Your aircraft’s position is visible on the SafeSky map or radar. • Your callsign is displayed next to the aircraft icon. • When another user clicks on your aircraft, they can view basic profile details such as your nickname, aircraft photo, and other voluntary information. |
| PRIVATE | • Your aircraft’s position is still visible on the map or radar, ensuring safety and situational awareness for others. • Your callsign is not displayed with the aircraft icon. • When clicked, your aircraft reveals no personal information, except to approved fellow pilots (see the chapter on fellow pilots). |
Pilots can change their privacy settings at any time directly from the app’s profile menu.
SafeSky retains archived traffic data for a limited period to support research and rescue activities.
After this period, archives are systematically anonymised and used for statistical analysis, service-quality monitoring, or aviation-safety studies.
9. Connected systems and applications
Detailed list of all supported technologies and integrations.
This section lists the concrete systems, devices, and apps connected to SafeSky. It complements (but does not repeat) the overview above.
9.1 Standard surveillance systems
| System | Description |
|---|---|
| ADS-B | Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast; aircraft transmit position and flight data over 1090 MHz. |
| Mode-S (MLAT) | Secondary surveillance transponders whose positions are computed via multilateration from ground receivers. |
| ADS-L | LTE-based data link for exchanging aircraft position data via mobile networks. |
| ADS-L for Mobile | SafeSky’s implementation enabling direct position sharing through smartphones and connected apps. |
9.2 Non-standard air-to-air systems
| System | Description |
|---|---|
| FLARM | Peer-to-peer proximity network widely used by gliders and light aircraft. |
| FANET | Mesh radio for paragliders/ultralights enabling local position sharing. |
| Flying Neurons | Community radio trackers broadcasting position for small aircraft and free-flight. |
| Microtrack | Lightweight tracker emitting basic position beacons for free-flight. |
| OGN Tracker | Devices using the Open Glider Network to broadcast positions. |
| PilotAware | Portable unit with proprietary air-to-air plus ADS-B features. |
9.3 Navigation software
| Software | Description |
|---|---|
| EasyVFR | VFR navigation app supporting live traffic display and device integrations. |
| Air Navigation Pro | Mobile flight-navigation tool with traffic overlays and device connectivity. |
| SwissNavX | Navigation software supporting SafeSky traffic overlays for light GA. |
9.4 Paramotor and paraglider applications
| App | Description |
|---|---|
| XC-Track | Free-flight flight-computer app with SafeSky feed. |
| Gaggle | Social/tracking app for paramotor and paraglider pilots. |
| eVario | Electronic variometer app supporting live traffic. |
| Wing-It | Free-flight navigation and live-tracking platform. |
| TheFlightVario | Vario + navigation app with traffic display. |
| XC-Guide | Cross-country tracking and competition tool. |
| Airsports NO | Norwegian air-sports navigation platform. |
| CloudDash | Cloud dashboard for free-flight with live traffic. |
| Volandoo | Mobile flight companion for paramotor/ULM. |
9.5 Portable hardware
| Device | Description |
|---|---|
| Aero Tracker | GPS tracker sending position into SafeSky. |
| SkyRecon | Compact tracker for paragliders/ultralights. |
| FlyMaster | Free-flight instrument (vario/GPS) with traffic overlays. |
| SkyTraxx | Variometer/GPS instrument supporting traffic feeds. |
| SkyEcho 2 | Portable ADS-B IN/OUT transceiver for GA. |
| PowerFLARM Fusion | Combined FLARM/ADS-B traffic device. |
| PilotAware | Portable air-to-air transceiver integrated with SafeSky. |
| Levil BOM | External sensor/ADS-B receiver for light aircraft. |
| Syride | Compact flight computer for free-flight pilots. |
| FlyData.io FRD | Flight-recorder gateway uploading telemetry to SafeSky. |
9.6 Drone integration
| System | Description |
|---|---|
| SafeSky Inside® API | Developer API enabling UTM/drone operators to embed SafeSky traffic. |
| DroneTag | Remote-ID device broadcasting unmanned-aircraft identity and position. |
| DroneSense | Mission-management platform integrating real-time traffic, video and telemetry. |
9.7 SafeSky App & SafeSky Pro
| Application | Description |
|---|---|
| SafeSky App | Mobile app for recreational and GA pilots; acts as an Internet transponder via LTE to share and receive live traffic. |
| SafeSky Pro | For helicopter fleets and professional operators; integrates with fleet systems and certified avionics for enhanced situational awareness. |
9.8 Glass Cockpit
| System | Description |
|---|---|
| Helios Avionics | Cockpit system capable of displaying SafeSky traffic on dedicated avionics screens. |