Flight Tracker

Track any flight worldwide using AviationStack API and display in a clean, Flighty-style format.

Quick Start

Track a flight by its IATA code:

scripts/track_flight.py AA100
scripts/track_flight.py UA2402
scripts/track_flight.py BA123

First-Time Setup

Before using this skill, you need an API key (one-time setup):

• Get a free API key at https://aviationstack.com/signup/free (100 requests/month)
• Set environment variable:

export AVIATIONSTACK_API_KEY='your-key-here'

• Install dependencies:

pip3 install requests

For detailed setup instructions, see api-setup.md.

Output Format

The skill displays flight information in a clean, readable format with:

• ✈️ Airline and flight number
• 🛩️ Aircraft type and registration
• 🛫 Departure airport, terminal, gate, times
• 🛬 Arrival airport, terminal, gate, times
• 📊 Flight status with visual indicators
• ⏱️ Delay calculations (if applicable)
• 🌐 Live position, altitude, speed (when airborne)

• 🟢 Active/Airborne/En-route
• ✅ Landed/Arrived
• 🟡 Scheduled
• 🟠 Delayed
• 🔴 Cancelled

Advanced Usage

Get raw JSON data:

scripts/track_flight.py AA100 --json

Check help:

scripts/track_flight.py --help

Workflow

When a user asks to track a flight:

• Extract the flight number from the request
• Run the tracking script with the flight number
• Present the formatted output to the user
• If data is needed for further processing, use --json flag

Flight Number Formats

Accept IATA flight codes:

• AA100 (American Airlines)
• UA2402 (United)
• BA123 (British Airways)
• DL456 (Delta)

Error Handling

The script handles common errors:

• Missing API key → Shows setup instructions
• Flight not found → Suggests verification
• API errors → Displays error message
• Rate limit exceeded → Indicates limit reached

API Limits

Free tier: 100 requests/month. Track usage to stay within limits. For heavy usage, consider upgrading or alternative APIs (see references/api-setup.md).

Notes

• Uses AviationStack free tier (no HTTPS on free plan)
• Real-time data updated frequently
• Historical flight data available
• Worldwide coverage (250+ countries, 13,000+ airlines)