MLAT

How We Track Flights with MLAT?

We developed MLAT in an effort to track additional flights, but also because it’s an exciting technique and we saw it as a good technical challenge. For our purposes, MLAT requires four or more receivers in a region to receive a signal from the same aircraft. We then measure the Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA)—or the time it takes the signal from the aircraft to reach the receiver. By comparing how long it takes the signal from the aircraft to reach each of our receivers we are able to determine the aircraft’s position and speed. MLAT position accuracy is near that of ADS-B. Through our testing we have achieved accuracy to within 10-20 meters. Speed is also calculated when tracking with MLAT, but errors are common in speed data, especially when an aircraft is circling or making turns.

To know more go to flightradar24