Frequently Asked Questions
What is FLARMnet?
FLARMnet is a database of pilot information to enrich information available from FLARM and other electronic conspicuity systems to pilots while flying. It allows you to be visible to other pilots by your name, aircraft registration, competition call-sign, and aircraft type - if you so choose.
To be used, the database must be downloaded and programmed into the FLARM display or app.
Do I need to register at FLARMnet?
The downloads are available without registration. If you want to add your device to FLARMnet, you do need to create an account.
Who runs FLARMnet? Does it cost to use it?
FLARMnet.org is developed, maintained, and supported by FLARM Technology. Using FLARMnet is entirely free of charge (also for non-FLARM products); we consider this a service to the community.
Do you only support FLARM products?
FLARMnet is open to all systems for electronic conspicuity: You can register an ADS-B transponder, an OGN tracker, or a FANET device, to name a few. More devices will be added as they become available, e.g. when ADS-L matures.
What is the radio address?
The radio address is a number used by FLARM and other electronic conspicuity devices for identification in when communicating over radio. The address must be unique to allow receiving devices to attribute received data to aircraft, unambiguously.
A full radio address consists of a type qualifier prefix (e.g. FLARM, ICAO, OGN) and a 6-digit hexadecimal number, consisting of the digits 0-9 and the letters A-F. FLARMnet.org uses a colon to separate the type from the address. Examples: FLARM:DD1234, ICAO:4B1234. Only the combination of type and address is unique, so FLARM:DD1234 and OGN:DD1234 are two different addresses.
What types of radio addresses exist?
Three different types of radio addresses exist:
- ICAO 24-bit address: Every FLARM product allows you to set and use the aircraft's ICAO address as a radio address. Since we don't know in what aircraft a FLARM product will be used, you must set this in the configuration. This is the same address programmed into your Mode-S transponder. If the aircraft has such a transponder, the ICAO type is required. A good explanation of the ICAO address can be found here.
- Vendor-specific addresses: This includes the FLARM address type, which is the default setting when you receive a FLARM product from the factory. The radio address is derived from the serial number of the device.
- Random address: This uses a randomized address for privacy-conscious users, to hide their identity. Random addresses work differently in different systems. Random addresses cannot be used with FLARMnet.
For FLARM products, the radio address type can be set in the device configuration.
Why does FLARMnet need my radio address?
FLARMnet stores the radio address together with other information (provided by you) in the database. Other FLARMnet users can use this database to identify other aircraft based on the received radio communications and look up the associated data. In the cockpit, you can then see the associated data, e.g. the aircraft's callsign
I have a FLARM product. How can I determine its radio address?
It depends on your configuration. Modern products (e.g. PowerFLARM Fusion, PowerFLARM Flex) display the radio address in the FLARM Hub app. For FLARM Classic products, you can use FLARM Tool, which displays the address in the main window.
Alternatively, you can find the radio address in an IGC file. A FLARM-based address looks like this:
...
LFLA102044ID 2 DF1267
...
An ICAO-based address looks like this:
...
LFLA102044ID 1 4B33A2
...
Does FLARMnet compromise my privacy?
It is the explicit goal of FLARMnet to share some data with other users. Therefore, you should consider the information you are entering in the Register or Update Device screens public domain. Do not enter data in there that you do not want other users to see or have access to.
If you do not want to share any data, but still want an entry to be available for emergencies, then you can disable the "Permit Identification" checkbox when registering or updating your device. This will prevent your data from being shared with other users, but still allow you to use the FLARMnet database for your own device.
What does the Permit Livetracking setting do?
The Permit Livetracking setting allows you to express your intention regarding sharing your position with other users over internet-based tracking servers such as GliderTracker. When disabled, a tracking service consuming the FLARMnet database will know that you do not want to share your position and hopefully suppress your data. Note that this requires the tracking service to respect this setting, which is not guaranteed by FLARM.
Important: Air-to-air interaction is not affected by this setting, so other users can still see your position and data when they are in radio range.
What does the Permit Identification setting do?
The Permit Identification setting allows you to disable output of your personal data, i.e. the aircraft model, the registration / tail number, and the call sign. This means that your data will not be available to other users, even if they have the FLARMnet database installed on their devices. The data is still present though for emergency cases. Also, your address is protected such that nobody else can create an entry with your address.
Note that it is possible to disable both livetracking and identification.
Is FLARMnet affiliated with OGN?
No. OGN runs their own database (Devices Database, DDB) with a similar scope. DDB is a separate project and not affiliated with FLARMnet. FLARMnet offers a download format compatible with DDB to allow users to use the data in their applications.
Why are there different downloads for Butterfly displays?
The first generation Butterfly displays have tightly constrained memory. The full FLARMnet database does simply not fit. The downloads filter entries by regions to provide a usable subset of the data. Simply download the artifact that best matches your region.