Scripts and stuff for manipulating the json files generated by FlightAware's version of dump1090. Mostly command line.

• a command line / terminal window where the magic happens
• python (currently written in Python 2)
• python geopy module (sudo pip install geopy)
• ncurses
• a working FlightAware instance of Dump1090 (e.g. PiAware, this one)
• retrofuturistic dreams

The scripts do not have to reside on the same machine that dump1090 is running. Meaning that you can forward output from a dump1090 port, presumably even a non-FlightAware dump1090, to a net-only dump1090 input port on the machine running the script. Just make sure that the ultimate dump1090 instance the scripts poll are outputting FlightAware style json files.

Alternatively, if you have a URL to an aircraft.json file, it will work -- though for some reason constant HTTP pulling seems messy and churlish.

Aviation loves it acronyms; so why not contribute?

Ncurses scripts are optimized for 80x25 terminal display because there is no need for anything bigger. That said, have at it to hack away for larger terminal windows if you'd like.

• put scripts somewhere, presumably in your $PATH
• edit variables near the top of your scripts. Configuration details are in each script's section below; they are pretty similar as I tried to keep standard nomenclature.

Tells you the ICAO (hex) and flight number of the closest aircraft to your Site (lat/lon is user configurable). A delightfully crude ncurses PFD (primary flight display) metaphor is used to indicate other informations such as squawk, altitude, speed, heading, etc. The PFD also indicates trends: meaning it will subtly display whether an aircraft is getting closer are farther from the Site, and whether it is ascending/level/descending.

Additionally, the script calculates the compass bearing of the aircraft from your Site, so you know which direction to look for it.

A second mode shows a list of the 20 aircraft nearest your site, sorted by distance from Site.

A third "marquee" mode simply flashes the flight number in the center of the screen... so that you can set up a monitor in your back yard and see in only what is flight over you at the very moment.

Options are found at the top of the script

# Receiver Site Location

# Stock (KSEA)
SiteLat= 47.449888     #site latitude, decimal degrees
SiteLon= -122.3117778  #site longitude, decimal degrees

# Location of aircraft.json file to be used
#   local pathtojson is preferred, a URL can be used as a backup, if you must

pathtojson = '/run/dump1090-fa/aircraft.json'

urltojson = 'http://be.nice.com/do/not/steal/without/asking/other/peoples/aircraft.json'

# Initial ncurse screen to show. opts: pfd, marquee, list, config

display="pfd"

# Time To Sleep... between refresh

tts=1

# Distance threshold. We are interested in aircraft beyond this distance from Site

dxthreshold = 50

# stale report threshold

staleAge = 20

# some verbose shit

verbose = 1

Tells you the ICAO (hex) and flight number of the farthest aircraft to your Site (lat/lon is user configurable). A delightfully crude ncurses PFD (primary flight display) metaphor is used to indicate other informations such as squawk, altitude, speed, heading, etc. The PFD also indicates trends: meaning it will subtly display whether an aircraft is getting closer are farther from the Site, and whether it is ascending/level/descending.

Additionally, the script calculates the compass bearing of the aircraft from your Site, so you know which direction to look for it.

A second mode shows a list of the 20 aircraft farthest from your site, sorted by distance from Site. For distance, this is probably the most useful feature as you can see a list of distant contacts and enjoying "dx-ing" like the ham radio folk do. Aging aircraft go dim before disappearing, like eaglets leaving the nest.

Options are found at the top of the script

# Receiver Site Location

# Stock (KSEA)
SiteLat= 47.449888     #site latitude, decimal degrees
SiteLon= -122.3117778  #site longitude, decimal degrees

# Location of aircraft.json file to be used
#   local pathtojson is preferred, a URL can be used as a backup, if you must

pathtojson = '/run/dump1090-fa/aircraft.json'

urltojson = 'http://be.nice.com/do/not/steal/without/asking/other/peoples/aircraft.json'

# Initial ncurse screen to show. opts: pfd, marquee, list, config

display="list"

# Time To Sleep... between refresh

tts=1

# Distance threshold. We are interested in aircraft beyond this distance from Site

dxthreshold = 50

# stale report threshold

staleAge = 20

# some verbose shit

verbose = 1

Monitors the aircraft.json file for specific ICAO or Flight numbers

Monitors the aircraft.json file for flights over a specified area (in a specified volume or 3D airspace, really). Displays individual aircraft with positions in a square defined by lowlat, lowlon to hilat, hilon and below ceiling and above floor.

Outputs to screen

Monitors the aircraft.json file for flights over a specified area (in a specified volume or 3D airspace, really). Records individual aircraft with positions in a square defined by lowlat, lowlon to hilat, hilon and below ceiling and above floor.

Outputs XML or tab-delimited data