Looking for some help with FlightXML

Hello:

I was looking to migrate FIDS project from another data provider to FlightAware using FlightXML.

Basically I need Arrival and Departure screens with flights 6 hours before to 6 hours after the current time, for example:



Departures
Airline               Flight     Destination    Status                   Time
Delta Air Lines       4828       Detroit        Delayed 17 minutes       6:15 PM
American Airlines     3138       Chicago        On-time                  8:23 PM

Arrivals
Airline               Flight     From           Status                   Time
United Airlines       5599       Chicago        Arrived 20 minutes late  5:59 PM
American Airlines     3138       Chicago        31 minutes late          8:08 PM


I have been accessing the FlightXML API fine, and looking at the following:

  • Enroute

  • Arrived

  • Scheduled

  • Departed

But these do not seem to have Airline name information or Status information.

I can extrapolate the Flight Ident and run through a list of Codeshares to display the proper Airline for most cases, but codeshares can get crazy sometimes.

I have kind of looked through a lot of the other Operations available for FlightXML, and I am not really finding what I am looking for.
Am I missing something?

If anyone has information that I overlooked, please let me know?

Thank you for your time.

John

Hi John,

You can find actual, expected and filed times by calling FlightInfo or FlightInfoEx with a flight ident:
https://flightaware.com/commercial/flightxml/explorer/#op_FlightInfo

These times can help you determine the status.

As for airlines, you could make your own database by using
(https://flightaware.com/commercial/flightxml/explorer/#op_AllAirlines)
and
https://flightaware.com/commercial/flightxml/explorer/#op_AirlineInfo

I too am looking to replace another provider for FIDS data using FlightAware. The problem I am running into is that the information that comes back for flights is based on the identifier. An example of this is PDT4930 which is an American Airlines flight flown by Piedmont airlines. The information that I need is that it is an American Airlines flight. I can’t find a way using the available data to connect the PDT flight to American Airlines.

Any thoughts?

adimic: Thank you for your help.

Unfortunately after spending some time working with the API, FlightAware’s current offerings are going to be cost prohibitive for the budget I have for existing project.

My current provider I make 2 calls to the API every 15 minutes (1 for Arrivals and 1 for Departures). This gives me all the common information used for Airport Flight Information Displays in two easy calls. Unfortunately they are about to require a $500/month minimum for their product, in which I only use about $45/month currently as that is what is budgeted for existing project.

To get the same data with FlightAware I would have to make about 10-200 calls every 15 minutes depending on time of day and number of flights. This is because I have to request information on every individual identifier to get Main Codeshare Airline, status of flight, etc. for each flight. This would cost $1000’s a month for data access, which is way too much.

Although it will not serve my immediate need, I would like to suggest that FlightAware look into providing a FIDS product in the Future.

It is evident that there is certainly a need for this, as many others seem to be in a similar situation as me, looking for a new provider that caters to small business providers.

FlightAware does have some other offerings in which I have interest in, but unfortunately my current needs can not be reasonably met with your service.

Thank you again for your help.

jrbtechnical:
I understand the need for better FIDS like queries. We are actually working on improving Enroute, Arrived, Scheduled and Departed for our next FlightXML3.
Thank you for your suggestions.

We are also dealing with the “other flight data service provider” who is changing their pricing structure to the $500/month minimum as well and was hoping FlightXML would be a good FIDS data alternative but it looks like we have to wait for FlightXML3…

Since we have to suspend services with the other provider on 3/1/2015 is there any ETA on FlightXML3? Q2, Q3, Q4?

Thank you Adimic.

Please let us know what approximate time frame to look for FlightXML3 if you can.

John

The plan is to have a beta FlightXML3 version in Q2.
Besides the 4 FIDS data calls, are there other FlightXML calls you are planning to use?

Is there any update on the beta release of FlightXML3 that supports FIDS-related queries? I know Q2 2016 was the plan but I’m guessing it’s been delayed a bit?

Thanks

There is no beta of that specific FlightXML3 functionality available for testing yet.

However, there is a FIDS example written in PHP designed for FlightXML2, if you would like to use that as a starting point for current development:
github.com/flightaware/FlightXML-FIDS-PHP