OpenSky Network
OpenSky Network is a non-profit research initiative operating a crowdsourced global sensor network of 7,000+ receivers collecting ADS-B, Mode-S, FLARM, and VHF air traffic data. It provides free open access to researchers, aviation professionals, and enthusiasts for academic and non-commercial use.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersBurgdorf, Switzerland
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What OpenSky Network does
OpenSky Network is a Switzerland-based, non-profit research initiative founded in 2013 that operates the world's largest crowdsourced air traffic surveillance network, with more than 7,000 registered sensors globally collecting ADS-B, Mode-S, ADS-C, FLARM, and VHF voice data. The platform serves academic researchers, aviation industry professionals, and aviation enthusiasts by providing free, open access to real-time and historical flight data through its Live Flight Map (Tar1090), Historical Database (Trino query engine), OpenSky API, curated Scientific Datasets, and Aircraft Database. The network supports 50,000+ registered users and has facilitated 868+ peer-reviewed academic publications since 2014.
OpenSky Network firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- OpenSky Network
- Legal name
- OpenSky Network
- Website
- https://opensky-network.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- OpenSky Network is a non-profit research initiative operating a crowdsourced global sensor network of 7,000+ receivers collecting ADS-B, Mode-S, FLARM, and VHF air traffic data. It provides free open access to researchers, aviation professionals, and enthusiasts for academic and non-commercial use.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
OpenSky Network industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Air Traffic Surveillance Data Platform
- NAICS
- Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (5182)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Network Performance, Visibility & SLA Monitoring (Managed NPM/Observability) (HDAIAFAI)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Network Analytics, AIOps & Root-Cause Correlation (HDAFAGAM)
Keywords
Where OpenSky Network is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Burgdorf
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Markets served
OpenSky Network business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Others
Revenue model
- Freemium Data Access: OpenSky Network provides free access to flight tracking data for research purposes. The platform operates as a non-profit research initiative supported by community contributions and academic partnerships. Data is openly available to researchers, enthusiasts, and commercial users for non-commercial research applications.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Free Research Access |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
OpenSky Network product offering
Product offeringCore offering
OpenSky Network operates a crowdsourced global sensor network of more than 7,000 registered receivers that collect ADS-B, Mode-S, ADS-C, FLARM and VHF voice air traffic data and share it openly. It exposes this data through a live flight map (Tar1090), a REST API, a historical database queryable via Trino, curated scientific datasets, and an aircraft database for academic research and analysis. The platform is run as a non-profit research initiative and relies on community contributors for data ingestion.
Product overview
OpenSky Network is a large-scale, crowdsourced air traffic control data collection and sharing platform providing open access to aviation surveillance data. The platform operates on a sensor network of over 7000 registered sensors globally, collecting ADS-B, Mode-S, ADS-C, FLARM and VHF voice data. The core product is the Live Flight Map (Tar1090) for real-time tracking, complemented by the Historical Database (Trino) for research queries and the OpenSky API for programmatic data access. Data products include Scientific Datasets for academic research, an Aircraft Database for aircraft information, and specialized feeds for FLARM and VHF data. Hardware products (ADS-B Raspberry Pi receiver and Radarcape sensor) enable community contribution to the sensor network. Additional services include Flight Alerts for notifications, Data Tools for analysis, and Top Lists for network statistics. The network supports over 50000 users and has generated 868 academic publications.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- OpenSky Symposium: Annual academic symposium for aviation research using OpenSky Network data
Products and services
- Live Flight Map (Tar1090) Real-time interactive flight tracking map displaying global air traffic based on ADS-B data collected from the OpenSky sensor network. Intended for researchers, aviation professionals and enthusiasts.
- Historical Database (Trino) Comprehensive historical flight data archive queryable through Trino, enabling research and analysis of past air traffic patterns and aircraft movements. Targeted at researchers and aviation analysts.
- OpenSky API REST API providing programmatic access to real-time and historical aviation surveillance data including flight positions, aircraft information and sensor data. Used by developers, researchers and aviation industry professionals.
- Scientific Datasets Curated research-grade datasets derived from OpenSky Network data, suitable for academic research and scientific analysis in aviation and related fields. Intended for university researchers and PhD students.
- Aircraft Database Comprehensive database of aircraft information including registration details, aircraft type and operator data linked to observed flights. Targeted at researchers and aviation analysts.
- ADS-B / Raspberry Pi Receiver Low-cost ADS-B receiver kit based on Raspberry Pi hardware that enables individuals to contribute to the OpenSky sensor network and feed flight data. Targeted at community contributors and aviation enthusiasts.
- Radarcape Sensor Professional-grade ADS-B and Mode-S sensor device from Beast Sensors, compatible with feeding data to OpenSky Network. Used by community feeders and professional contributors.
- FLARM Data Feed Integration with FLARM collision avoidance system data, providing low-altitude traffic awareness particularly for light aircraft operations. Used by general aviation researchers and operators.
- VHF Voice Data Feed VHF radio communications data feed providing additional surveillance information for air traffic monitoring. Used by researchers and aviation analysts.
Quantifiable outcome
- 868 peer-reviewed publications using OpenSky data across aviation research domains
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use OpenSky Network
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
OpenSky Network technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability3 records
Feature6 records
OpenSky Network partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- CRIDA (Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo Tecnológico del Agua)coreCRIDA (Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo Tecnológico del Agua) is hosting the 14th OpenSky Symposium at their Campus in Madrid, Spain on October 29-30, 2026. José Miguel de Pablo Guerrero serves as General Chair representing CRIDA and EUROCONTROL PRC, with José Manuel Cordero serving as Local Chair.
- EUROCONTROL Performance Review Commission (PRC)coreThe Performance Review Commission (PRC) of EUROCONTROL supports the OpenSky Symposium since its 8th iteration. PRC aims to establish an Open Performance Data platform in cooperation with OpenSky Network and its community. PRC supports the Symposium and some of the most relevant research submissions, focusing on Safety, Environment, and System/Network Performance research challenges.
- Journal of Open Aviation Science (JOAS)coreFull papers accepted from the OpenSky Symposium are published in the Journal of Open Aviation Science (JOAS). The journal's open data and reproducibility guidelines apply to all publications, establishing a formal academic publishing partnership.
- ENAC (École Nationale de l'Aviation Civile)coreENAC (École Nationale de l'Aviation Civile) in France participates through Richard Alligier serving as Program Chair for the OpenSky Symposium. Academic institution contributing to the academic program and peer review process.
- armasuisse (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology)coreMartin Strohmeier from armasuisse (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology) serves as Web Chair for the OpenSky Symposium. armasuisse contributes technical expertise and academic leadership to the OpenSky Network community.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
OpenSky Network competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- RadarBox (AirNav Systems): Commercial flight tracking service combining ADS-B, multilateration and proprietary data sources. Direct competitor for both consumer flight tracking and commercial aviation data sales.
- FlightAware: Now part of Collins Aerospace (RTX), FlightAware operates a large ADS-B/Multilateration/HF receiver network and sells commercial aviation data products. Direct competitor in flight tracking data, with deeper enterprise/ATM-grade offerings than OpenSky.
- ADS-B Exchange: Community-driven, unfiltered ADS-B feed historically favored by enthusiasts (acquired by JetBlue in 2023). Direct peer in the open/crowdsourced flight tracking space with similar philosophy of unrestricted access.
- Aireon: Provider of space-based ADS-B surveillance via Iridium satellites, delivering global (including oceanic) flight tracking. Competes with OpenSky on aviation surveillance data, but at a much higher fidelity and commercial price point.
- Flightradar24: Commercial flight tracking platform using a crowdsourced ADS-B receiver network with global coverage — the closest direct competitor, monetizing consumer subscriptions and premium data feeds while OpenSky pursues an open-data, non-profit model.
Broad incumbents
- SITAONAIR / SITA FlightTracker: Provider of airline operations and aircraft communications services, including flight tracking via AIRINC and airline-grade ADS-B solutions. Competes in the airline/ATM flight tracking market where OpenSky's free data is sometimes used as a complement.
- OAG: Long-established aviation data provider focused on schedules, connectivity and analytics for airlines and airports. Adjacent competitor where OpenSky's trajectory datasets could substitute for some OAG use cases.
- Cirium: Aviation analytics and data business (part of RELX/LexisNexis Risk Solutions) providing scheduled flights, on-time performance, fleet and historical datasets. Overlaps with OpenSky's historical data use cases but targets enterprise/commercial customers.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
OpenSky Network social profiles
Digital presenceOpenSky Network financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
OpenSky Network leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
OpenSky Network funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
OpenSky Network M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about OpenSky Network
What does OpenSky Network do?
OpenSky Network operates a crowdsourced global sensor network of more than 7,000 registered receivers that collect ADS-B, Mode-S, ADS-C, FLARM and VHF voice air traffic data and share it openly. It exposes this data through a live flight map (Tar1090), a REST API, a historical database queryable via Trino, curated scientific datasets, and an aircraft database for academic research and analysis. The platform is run as a non-profit research initiative and relies on community contributors for data ingestion.
Is OpenSky Network a public or private company?
OpenSky Network is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was OpenSky Network founded?
OpenSky Network was founded in 2013. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is OpenSky Network based?
OpenSky Network is headquartered in Burgdorf, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does OpenSky Network make money?
One revenue line is on record: freemium Data Access.
Who are OpenSky Network's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are RadarBox (AirNav Systems), FlightAware, ADS-B Exchange, Aireon and Flightradar24. Broad incumbents are SITAONAIR / SITA FlightTracker, OAG and Cirium.
Does OpenSky Network have an API?
Yes. OpenSky Network offers a public API that provides access to real-time and historical air traffic control data including ADS-B, Mode-S, ADS-C, FLARM and VHF data. The API enables access to live flight tracking data, historical flight data stored in their Trino database, and the ability to query their comprehensive aircraft database. Developer documentation is at opensky-network.org/data/api.
What industry is OpenSky Network in?
OpenSky Network's product category is Air Traffic Surveillance Data Platform. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAIAFAI, Network Performance, Visibility & SLA Monitoring (Managed NPM/Observability), with a secondary code of HDAFAGAM, Network Analytics, AIOps & Root-Cause Correlation. Its NAICS code is 5182.