Airplane Identification?
 

Is there any web site where you can find what plane flew any given flight? Occasionally, I check the tail identification to see the number before flying, but sometimes that is not possible.

There is a part of me that thinks I may be the only one interested in this information, but, if ever there was a place to find a like-minded individual who would know....this might be it.

You can use this site http://www.bts.gov/xml/ontimesummary...aturesData.xml but the information is only for domestic U.S. flights.

You need to wait three months for the data to post. So, if you took a flight in September 2008, you won't be able to look up the details until December 2008.

how accurate is this BTS site?


I have noticed that on a few occasions the tail # I jotted down before boarding didn't match the one on BTS a few months later... some I even took a picture of the plane and its not the one they claim I flown.

--Russ

The BTS site is as accurate as the information it gets from the airlines. One thing to bear in mind is that the tail number (N.....) is not necessarily the same as the airlines' fleet number, and many airlines report using the latter.

For true accuracy (and timeliness) you need to enter the world of ACARS logs (google it). @:-)

Thanks! I normally fly domestically anyway, so this should work for me. I would like it to be reasonably accurate, but I am not all that AR about it.

You will be happy to know that you are not alone. Although not one myself, I have met several. Here is a link for starters.

http://www.planespotting.com/

thanks, typically I fly JetBlue and either get the plane name or the tail #, or both.

but there are 3 instances from last year where the information I recorded (took a picture of the plane with the name and tail #) is not the same as on the BTS site.

I don't know how I could be wrong, but its possible... I just want to make sure that BTS is indeed accurate.

--Russ

If you want (here or PM), give me the dates and flight numbers and I'll check using the aforementioned ACARS. :cool:

Any suggestion for sites with ACARS logs for S. America, Asia and Australia/New Zealand Flights? I'm finding quite a few for the mid-Atlantic States, UK, and The Netherlands, but not much beyond that.

This is W.Australia: http://perthacars.no-ip.org:8050/acars/search.asp

Use google to find the others, although some tend not to last very long (dead links).

you've got mail!


thanks,
--Russ