# Hey, What's Above? (heywhatsabove.com)

> A free web tool that answers "what's that plane flying over me right now?" It shows live aircraft above any US location (from the airplanes.live community ADS-B network), describes each in plain English (for example "Boeing 737-800, airliner"), and says where to look ("look NE, 35° up"). The site also publishes guides, an aviation glossary, an FAQ, 52 US city pages and 46 aircraft identification pages.

Key facts: live data refreshes about every 10 seconds; location is used only to fetch nearby aircraft; every aircraft links to https://globe.airplanes.live/?icao=<hex> for full tracking. Data is informational only and must not be used for navigation.

## Core
- [Live sky tool](https://heywhatsabove.com/): Aircraft overhead right now with direction, elevation angle, type and altitude. Supports ?q=<city or airport> and ?lat=&lon=.
- [About](https://heywhatsabove.com/about): What the site is, where data comes from, how look angles are computed, limitations.
- [FAQ](https://heywhatsabove.com/faq): 34 questions about the tool, aircraft, data and privacy.
- [Aviation glossary](https://heywhatsabove.com/glossary): 78 flight-tracking terms (ADS-B, squawk, callsign, ICAO hex, flight level...).
- [Pro](https://heywhatsabove.com/pro): Planned paid tier: ad-free plus extras; waitlist.

## Guides
- [How to identify a plane overhead, step by step](https://heywhatsabove.com/guides/how-to-identify-a-plane-overhead): To identify a plane overhead, note which compass direction it is in and how high above the horizon it looks, then open a live ADS-B tool and find the aircraft at that bearing and elevation angle. Its callsign, aircraft type and altitude tell you who it is, and a quick look at engine count and size confirms the match.
- [How ADS-B works: the signal that tells you what's overhead](https://heywhatsabove.com/guides/how-ads-b-works): ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast) is a system in which aircraft use satellite navigation to work out their own position and then broadcast it, along with altitude, speed and identity, several times a second on 1090 MHz or 978 MHz. Anyone with a suitable receiver can pick up those unencrypted broadcasts, which is how live flight maps work.
- [Why some planes don't show up on the map](https://heywhatsabove.com/guides/why-some-planes-dont-show-up): A plane you can see may be missing from a live map because it does not broadcast ADS-B, because no receiver near you can hear it (common for low aircraft), because it uses a privacy program, or simply because the data has not refreshed yet. It is rarely anything mysterious.
- [What altitude numbers mean on a flight tracker](https://heywhatsabove.com/guides/what-altitude-numbers-mean): The altitude on a flight tracker is usually barometric pressure altitude above mean sea level, not height above your house. Above 18,000 ft in the US it is expressed as a flight level, so FL350 means about 35,000 ft, and "ground" means the aircraft reports that it is on the surface.
- [Airliner, bizjet, helicopter or military? How to tell what's flying over](https://heywhatsabove.com/guides/airliner-bizjet-helicopter-or-military): You can usually tell what kind of aircraft is overhead from four clues: its size and engine layout, its sound, its altitude and speed, and its callsign. ADS-B adds a fifth clue, the emitter category, which labels aircraft from A1 (light) to A5 (heavy) and A7 (rotorcraft).
- [Contrails explained: why some planes leave white trails](https://heywhatsabove.com/guides/contrails-explained): Contrails are clouds made by aircraft. Hot, humid engine exhaust mixes with very cold air, usually around -40 °C and above roughly 26,000 ft, and the water vapour freezes into ice crystals. Whether a trail vanishes in seconds or spreads for hours depends on how humid the air is at that altitude.
- [Spotting planes at night: reading the lights](https://heywhatsabove.com/guides/spotting-planes-at-night): At night an aircraft shows a red light on its left wingtip, a green light on its right and a white light at the tail, plus a flashing red beacon and usually white strobes. If you see a steady light gliding silently with no blinking, it is more likely a satellite; if it does not move relative to the stars, it is a star or planet.
- [Aircraft noise and flight paths: why planes fly over your house](https://heywhatsabove.com/guides/aircraft-noise-and-flight-paths): Planes fly over your house because you live under a departure or arrival path for a runway in use. Aircraft take off and land into the wind, so the direction they use changes with the weather. Satellite-based routes have concentrated many paths into narrower corridors, which is why some neighbourhoods hear more traffic than they used to.
- [Callsigns and flight numbers: decoding the letters on the map](https://heywhatsabove.com/guides/callsigns-and-flight-numbers): A callsign is the name an aircraft uses on the radio and in its ADS-B broadcast. Airline flights use a three-letter ICAO airline code plus a flight number, such as UAL123 for United flight UA123, while private aircraft usually use their registration, such as N172SP.
- [Squawk codes explained: 1200, 7500, 7600, 7700 and more](https://heywhatsabove.com/guides/squawk-codes-explained): A squawk code is a four-digit number a pilot sets on the transponder so air traffic control can identify the aircraft. Most are assigned for a single flight, but a few are reserved: in the US, 1200 means a VFR flight not talking to ATC, 7500 means unlawful interference (hijacking), 7600 means radio failure and 7700 means a general emergency.
- [How far away is that plane? Distance, angle and sound explained](https://heywhatsabove.com/guides/how-far-away-is-that-plane): A plane's distance depends on its height and how high it appears in your sky. A jet at 35,000 ft that looks 30° above the horizon is about 10 nautical miles away over the ground and 11.5 nm in a straight line; at 10° up it is over 30 nm away. Its sound takes about 30 seconds to reach you, so it seems to come from behind the plane.
- [Why is a helicopter circling over my neighbourhood?](https://heywhatsabove.com/guides/why-helicopters-circle): A helicopter circling one spot is usually police watching an incident, a news crew covering a story, or an air ambulance waiting to land. Helicopters flying low in straight lines along wires are often utility patrols. The type, callsign and track shape in a live ADS-B tool usually tell you which.
- [Why planes circle: holding patterns, orbits and racetracks](https://heywhatsabove.com/guides/why-planes-circle-holding-patterns): An airliner circling high over one area is usually in a holding pattern, an oval racetrack flown while it waits for weather to improve or for a landing slot. Smaller planes circle for training, aerial photography, surveillance, banner towing or skydiving, and military tankers fly long racetracks while refueling other aircraft.

## Aircraft identification
- [Boeing 737-700](https://heywhatsabove.com/aircraft/b737): narrowbody airliner; ICAO B737.
- [Boeing 737-800](https://heywhatsabove.com/aircraft/b738): narrowbody airliner; ICAO B738.
- [Boeing 737-900 / 737-900ER](https://heywhatsabove.com/aircraft/b739): narrowbody airliner; ICAO B739.
- [Boeing 737 MAX 8](https://heywhatsabove.com/aircraft/b38m): narrowbody airliner; ICAO B38M.
- [Boeing 737 MAX 9](https://heywhatsabove.com/aircraft/b39m): narrowbody airliner; ICAO B39M.
- [Airbus A319](https://heywhatsabove.com/aircraft/a319): narrowbody airliner; ICAO A319.
- [Airbus A320](https://heywhatsabove.com/aircraft/a320): narrowbody airliner; ICAO A320.
- [Airbus A321](https://heywhatsabove.com/aircraft/a321): narrowbody airliner; ICAO A321.
- [Airbus A320neo](https://heywhatsabove.com/aircraft/a20n): narrowbody airliner; ICAO A20N.
- [Airbus A321neo](https://heywhatsabove.com/aircraft/a21n): narrowbody airliner; ICAO A21N.
- [Airbus A220-100](https://heywhatsabove.com/aircraft/bcs1): small narrowbody airliner; ICAO BCS1.
- [Airbus A220-300](https://heywhatsabove.com/aircraft/bcs3): small narrowbody airliner; ICAO BCS3.
- [Embraer E175](https://heywhatsabove.com/aircraft/e75l): regional jet; ICAO E75L/E75S.
- [Embraer E190](https://heywhatsabove.com/aircraft/e190): regional jet; ICAO E190.
- [Bombardier CRJ200](https://heywhatsabove.com/aircraft/crj2): 50-seat regional jet; ICAO CRJ2.
- [Bombardier CRJ700](https://heywhatsabove.com/aircraft/crj7): regional jet; ICAO CRJ7.
- [Bombardier CRJ900](https://heywhatsabove.com/aircraft/crj9): regional jet; ICAO CRJ9.
- [Boeing 757-200](https://heywhatsabove.com/aircraft/b752): large narrowbody airliner; ICAO B752.
- [Boeing 767-300 / 767-300ER / 767-300F](https://heywhatsabove.com/aircraft/b763): widebody twin-jet; ICAO B763.
- [Boeing 777-200 / 777-200ER](https://heywhatsabove.com/aircraft/b772): long-haul widebody twin-jet; ICAO B772.
- [Boeing 777-300ER](https://heywhatsabove.com/aircraft/b77w): long-haul widebody twin-jet; ICAO B77W.
- [Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner](https://heywhatsabove.com/aircraft/b788): long-haul widebody twin-jet; ICAO B788.
- [Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner](https://heywhatsabove.com/aircraft/b789): long-haul widebody twin-jet; ICAO B789.
- [Airbus A330-300](https://heywhatsabove.com/aircraft/a333): widebody twin-jet; ICAO A333.
- [Airbus A350-900](https://heywhatsabove.com/aircraft/a359): long-haul widebody twin-jet; ICAO A359.
- [Boeing 747-8 / 747-8F](https://heywhatsabove.com/aircraft/b748): four-engine jumbo jet; ICAO B748.
- [McDonnell Douglas MD-11F](https://heywhatsabove.com/aircraft/md11): three-engine widebody freighter; ICAO MD11.
- [ATR 72-600](https://heywhatsabove.com/aircraft/at76): regional turboprop; ICAO AT76.
- [Cessna 208 Caravan](https://heywhatsabove.com/aircraft/c208): single-engine utility turboprop; ICAO C208.
- [Cessna 172 Skyhawk](https://heywhatsabove.com/aircraft/c172): single-engine piston airplane; ICAO C172.
- [Piper PA-28 Cherokee family](https://heywhatsabove.com/aircraft/pa28): single-engine piston airplane; ICAO P28A/P28B/P28R/P28T.
- [Cirrus SR22](https://heywhatsabove.com/aircraft/sr22): single-engine piston airplane; ICAO SR22/S22T.
- [Pilatus PC-12](https://heywhatsabove.com/aircraft/pc12): single-engine business turboprop; ICAO PC12.
- [Beechcraft King Air 200 / 250](https://heywhatsabove.com/aircraft/be20): twin-engine business turboprop; ICAO BE20.
- [Cessna Citation Excel / XLS](https://heywhatsabove.com/aircraft/c56x): midsize business jet; ICAO C56X.
- [Cessna Citation Latitude](https://heywhatsabove.com/aircraft/c68a): midsize business jet; ICAO C68A.
- [Bombardier Challenger 300 / 350](https://heywhatsabove.com/aircraft/cl35): super-midsize business jet; ICAO CL30/CL35.
- [Embraer Phenom 300](https://heywhatsabove.com/aircraft/e55p): light business jet; ICAO E55P.
- [Gulfstream G650 / G650ER](https://heywhatsabove.com/aircraft/glf6): large-cabin business jet; ICAO GLF6.
- [Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk](https://heywhatsabove.com/aircraft/h60): military utility helicopter; ICAO H60.
- [Airbus H135 (EC135)](https://heywhatsabove.com/aircraft/ec35): light twin-engine helicopter; ICAO EC35.
- [Airbus H125 / AS350 Ecureuil](https://heywhatsabove.com/aircraft/as50): light single-engine helicopter; ICAO AS50.
- [Robinson R44](https://heywhatsabove.com/aircraft/r44): light piston helicopter; ICAO R44.
- [Boeing C-17 Globemaster III](https://heywhatsabove.com/aircraft/c17): military strategic airlifter; ICAO C17.
- [Lockheed C-130 Hercules](https://heywhatsabove.com/aircraft/c130): military tactical airlifter; ICAO C130/C30J.
- [Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker](https://heywhatsabove.com/aircraft/k35r): military aerial refueling tanker; ICAO K35R.

## What's flying over US cities
- [What's flying over New York City, NY](https://heywhatsabove.com/over/new-york): Live sky, airports (JFK, LGA, EWR, TEB, JRB) and common traffic.
- [What's flying over Los Angeles, CA](https://heywhatsabove.com/over/los-angeles): Live sky, airports (LAX, BUR, LGB, SNA, VNY) and common traffic.
- [What's flying over Chicago, IL](https://heywhatsabove.com/over/chicago): Live sky, airports (ORD, MDW, PWK, GYY, RFD) and common traffic.
- [What's flying over Dallas–Fort Worth, TX](https://heywhatsabove.com/over/dallas-fort-worth): Live sky, airports (DFW, DAL, AFW, ADS, KNFW) and common traffic.
- [What's flying over Houston, TX](https://heywhatsabove.com/over/houston): Live sky, airports (IAH, HOU, EFD, SGR, DWH) and common traffic.
- [What's flying over Atlanta, GA](https://heywhatsabove.com/over/atlanta): Live sky, airports (ATL, PDK, FTY, MGE, LZU) and common traffic.
- [What's flying over Washington, D.C., DC](https://heywhatsabove.com/over/washington-dc): Live sky, airports (DCA, IAD, BWI, ADW) and common traffic.
- [What's flying over Philadelphia, PA](https://heywhatsabove.com/over/philadelphia): Live sky, airports (PHL, PNE, ILG, TTN, WRI) and common traffic.
- [What's flying over Miami, FL](https://heywhatsabove.com/over/miami): Live sky, airports (MIA, FLL, OPF, TMB, HST) and common traffic.
- [What's flying over Phoenix, AZ](https://heywhatsabove.com/over/phoenix): Live sky, airports (PHX, AZA, DVT, SCF, LUF) and common traffic.
- [What's flying over Boston, MA](https://heywhatsabove.com/over/boston): Live sky, airports (BOS, BED, ORH, MHT) and common traffic.
- [What's flying over Riverside, CA](https://heywhatsabove.com/over/riverside): Live sky, airports (ONT, RIV, SBD, RAL, CNO) and common traffic.
- [What's flying over San Francisco, CA](https://heywhatsabove.com/over/san-francisco): Live sky, airports (SFO, OAK, SJC, NUQ, HAF) and common traffic.
- [What's flying over Detroit, MI](https://heywhatsabove.com/over/detroit): Live sky, airports (DTW, YIP, DET, PTK, MTC) and common traffic.
- [What's flying over Seattle, WA](https://heywhatsabove.com/over/seattle): Live sky, airports (SEA, BFI, RNT, PAE, TCM) and common traffic.
- [What's flying over Minneapolis, MN](https://heywhatsabove.com/over/minneapolis): Live sky, airports (MSP, STP, FCM, KANE) and common traffic.
- [What's flying over Tampa, FL](https://heywhatsabove.com/over/tampa): Live sky, airports (TPA, PIE, MCF, LAL, SRQ) and common traffic.
- [What's flying over San Diego, CA](https://heywhatsabove.com/over/san-diego): Live sky, airports (SAN, NKX, NZY, MYF, CLD) and common traffic.
- [What's flying over Denver, CO](https://heywhatsabove.com/over/denver): Live sky, airports (DEN, APA, BJC, BKF, KFTG) and common traffic.
- [What's flying over Baltimore, MD](https://heywhatsabove.com/over/baltimore): Live sky, airports (BWI, MTN, FME, DCA) and common traffic.
- [What's flying over St. Louis, MO](https://heywhatsabove.com/over/st-louis): Live sky, airports (STL, SUS, CPS, BLV) and common traffic.
- [What's flying over Orlando, FL](https://heywhatsabove.com/over/orlando): Live sky, airports (MCO, SFB, ORL, ISM) and common traffic.
- [What's flying over Charlotte, NC](https://heywhatsabove.com/over/charlotte): Live sky, airports (CLT, USA, KEQY, RKH) and common traffic.
- [What's flying over San Antonio, TX](https://heywhatsabove.com/over/san-antonio): Live sky, airports (SAT, SKF, RND, SSF) and common traffic.
- [What's flying over Portland, OR](https://heywhatsabove.com/over/portland): Live sky, airports (PDX, HIO, TTD, KUAO) and common traffic.
- [What's flying over Austin, TX](https://heywhatsabove.com/over/austin): Live sky, airports (AUS, KEDC, KGTU, KHYI) and common traffic.
- [What's flying over Sacramento, CA](https://heywhatsabove.com/over/sacramento): Live sky, airports (SMF, MHR, SAC, MCC, BAB, SUU) and common traffic.
- [What's flying over Pittsburgh, PA](https://heywhatsabove.com/over/pittsburgh): Live sky, airports (PIT, AGC, LBE, BTP) and common traffic.
- [What's flying over Las Vegas, NV](https://heywhatsabove.com/over/las-vegas): Live sky, airports (LAS, VGT, HSH, LSV, BLD) and common traffic.
- [What's flying over Cincinnati, OH](https://heywhatsabove.com/over/cincinnati): Live sky, airports (CVG, LUK, HAO, ILN, DAY) and common traffic.
- [What's flying over Kansas City, MO](https://heywhatsabove.com/over/kansas-city): Live sky, airports (MCI, MKC, OJC, SZL) and common traffic.
- [What's flying over Columbus, OH](https://heywhatsabove.com/over/columbus): Live sky, airports (CMH, LCK, OSU, KTZR) and common traffic.
- [What's flying over Indianapolis, IN](https://heywhatsabove.com/over/indianapolis): Live sky, airports (IND, KEYE, KTYQ, KUMP, GUS) and common traffic.
- [What's flying over Cleveland, OH](https://heywhatsabove.com/over/cleveland): Live sky, airports (CLE, BKL, CGF, CAK) and common traffic.
- [What's flying over Nashville, TN](https://heywhatsabove.com/over/nashville): Live sky, airports (BNA, KJWN, MQY, HOP) and common traffic.
- [What's flying over San Jose, CA](https://heywhatsabove.com/over/san-jose): Live sky, airports (SJC, RHV, PAO, NUQ, SFO) and common traffic.
- [What's flying over Virginia Beach, VA](https://heywhatsabove.com/over/virginia-beach): Live sky, airports (ORF, NTU, NGU, LFI, PHF) and common traffic.
- [What's flying over Jacksonville, FL](https://heywhatsabove.com/over/jacksonville): Live sky, airports (JAX, NIP, NRB, CRG, VQQ) and common traffic.
- [What's flying over Providence, RI](https://heywhatsabove.com/over/providence): Live sky, airports (PVD, NCO, SFZ, BOS) and common traffic.
- [What's flying over Raleigh, NC](https://heywhatsabove.com/over/raleigh): Live sky, airports (RDU, KTTA, KJNX, GSB) and common traffic.
- [What's flying over Milwaukee, WI](https://heywhatsabove.com/over/milwaukee): Live sky, airports (MKE, MWC, UES, ENW, OSH) and common traffic.
- [What's flying over Oklahoma City, OK](https://heywhatsabove.com/over/oklahoma-city): Live sky, airports (OKC, TIK, PWA, OUN) and common traffic.
- [What's flying over Louisville, KY](https://heywhatsabove.com/over/louisville): Live sky, airports (SDF, LOU, KJVY, FTK) and common traffic.
- [What's flying over Memphis, TN](https://heywhatsabove.com/over/memphis): Live sky, airports (MEM, NQA, OLV, MKL) and common traffic.
- [What's flying over Richmond, VA](https://heywhatsabove.com/over/richmond): Live sky, airports (RIC, KFCI, KOFP, PTB) and common traffic.
- [What's flying over Salt Lake City, UT](https://heywhatsabove.com/over/salt-lake-city): Live sky, airports (SLC, HIF, OGD, PVU, U42) and common traffic.
- [What's flying over Birmingham, AL](https://heywhatsabove.com/over/birmingham): Live sky, airports (BHM, KEET, KEKY, TCL) and common traffic.
- [What's flying over Buffalo, NY](https://heywhatsabove.com/over/buffalo): Live sky, airports (BUF, IAG, YYZ, ROC) and common traffic.
- [What's flying over Hartford, CT](https://heywhatsabove.com/over/hartford): Live sky, airports (BDL, HFD, CEF, HVN) and common traffic.
- [What's flying over Tucson, AZ](https://heywhatsabove.com/over/tucson): Live sky, airports (TUS, DMA, KRYN, MZJ) and common traffic.
- [What's flying over Honolulu, HI](https://heywhatsabove.com/over/honolulu): Live sky, airports (HNL, JRF, NGF, HHI) and common traffic.
- [What's flying over Anchorage, AK](https://heywhatsabove.com/over/anchorage): Live sky, airports (ANC, LHD, MRI, EDF) and common traffic.

## Optional
- [Full text](https://heywhatsabove.com/llms-full.txt): All guides, glossary, FAQ, aircraft and city content as Markdown.
- [Privacy policy](https://heywhatsabove.com/privacy): No cookies or analytics; location used only to fetch aircraft.
- [Terms of use](https://heywhatsabove.com/terms): Informational use only.