pyopensky

The pyopensky Python library provides functions to download data from the OpenSky Network live API and historical databases. It aims at making ADS-B and Mode S data from OpenSky easily accessible in the Python programming environment.

Key features:

• Access to live aircraft state vectors and flight information via REST API
• Query historical ADS-B and Mode S data from the Trino database
• Decode and rebuild flight trajectories from raw messages
• Support for spatial and temporal filtering
• Built-in caching for efficient data retrieval
• Integration with pandas DataFrames for easy data analysis

Full documentation on https://mode-s.org/pyopensky/

Installation

pip install pyopensky

or add it in your project with

uv add pyopensky

The library is also available on conda-forge, although this approach is no longer recommended:

conda install -c conda-forge pyopensky

Credentials

Access to the OpenSky Network historical database requires authentication. See details in the documentation on how to:

• Apply an OpenSky Network account
• Configure your credentials for API access
• Set up authentication for the Trino database

Usage

1. REST API

Important

Do NOT use REST API for historical data, use trino instead!

Access live and recent flight data.

Functions

from pyopensky.rest import REST

rest = REST()

rest.states()
rest.tracks(icao24)
rest.routes(callsign)
rest.aircraft(icao24, begin, end)
rest.arrival(airport, begin, end)
rest.departure(airport, begin, end)

Examples

from pyopensky.rest import REST

rest = REST()

# Get current state vectors for all aircraft
rest.states()

# Get trajectory for a specific aircraft
rest.tracks(icao24="3c6444")

# Get route information for a callsign
rest.routes(callsign="AFR292")

# Get flights for a specific aircraft in a time range
# NOTE: do NOT use REST for historical data, use trino instead!!
rest.aircraft(icao24="3c6444", begin="2024-01-01", end="2024-01-02")

# Get arrivals at an airport
# NOTE: do NOT use REST for historical data, use trino instead!!
rest.arrival(airport="EHAM", begin="2024-01-01 12:00", end="2024-01-01 13:00")

# Get departures from an airport
# NOTE: do NOT use REST for historical data, use trino instead!!
rest.departure(airport="LFPG", begin="2024-01-01 12:00", end="2024-01-01 13:00")

2. Trino Interface

Query historical ADS-B and Mode S data with advanced selection and processing.

Functions

from pyopensky.trino import Trino

trino = Trino()
# full description of the whole set of parameters in the documentation
trino.flightlist(start, stop, *, airport, callsign, icao24)
trino.rawdata(start, stop, *, callsign, icao24, bounds)
trino.history(start, stop, *, callsign, icao24, bounds)
trino.rebuild(start, stop, *, icao24, bounds)

Important

Refer to the documentation for advanced usage and parameter details.