fly24 Blog
Plain-English guides to live flight tracking and the aviation behind it.
Aircraft Registration Explained: Why Pakistani Planes Start with AP-
Every plane has a registration like a car number plate. Here is what AP-, A6-, HZ-, A7- and other prefixes mean, and how to search a plane by registration on fly24.
Flight Number vs Callsign: Why PK301 Shows Up as PIA301
Your ticket says PK301 but the flight tracker shows PIA301. Here is the difference between IATA flight numbers and ICAO callsigns, with a table for common airlines.
Flight Times from Pakistan: Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad to the Gulf, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the UK
How long is the flight from Lahore to Dubai, Karachi to Jeddah or Islamabad to London? A table of distances and typical non-stop flying times from Pakistan's three main airports.
How to Choose a Flight Tracker: 7 Things That Matter (and Why fly24 Is Different)
Not all live flight trackers are the same. Here is what to look for, whether you're following family flights, travelling for work or spotting planes, and how fly24 approaches each point.
How to Track a Flight Live (by Flight Number, Airline or Airport)
A simple step-by-step guide to tracking any flight in real time on fly24, whether you have the flight number, the airline name or only the airport.
Is Turbulence Dangerous? What Every Nervous Flyer Should Know
Turbulence feels scary, but airliners are built for it. Here is what causes bumps, how pilots avoid them, and the one simple thing that keeps you safe.
Pakistan's Airlines: PIA, Airblue, AirSial, Fly Jinnah and Serene Air Codes and Bases
A quick guide to the airlines of Pakistan, with their ticket codes, flight tracker callsigns and main bases, so you can track any Pakistani flight live.
Picking Someone Up from the Airport? Use Live Tracking to Time It Right
How to use a live flight tracker to know when to leave home, how long after landing your family will come out, and how to avoid waiting hours at arrivals.
Squawk 7700, 7600 and 7500: What Emergency Codes on Flight Trackers Mean
Seen a flight tracker show squawk 7700? Here is what the emergency transponder codes 7700, 7600 and 7500 mean, why pilots use them, and why most of them end safely.
What Is ADS-B? How Flight Trackers Know Where Every Plane Is
A plain-English explanation of ADS-B, the signal that powers live flight tracking, plus why coverage differs between countries.
Why Do Planes Fly at 35,000 Feet?
Airliners cruise between about 30,000 and 41,000 feet. Here is why that height saves fuel, avoids weather and keeps flights smooth, explained without jargon.
Why Some Flights Are Missing on Flight Trackers
Searched for a flight and it isn't on the map? These are the real reasons a plane may not appear on fly24 or any other live flight tracker, and what you can do.