Data / API and AI agents

API and AI agents

Beyond the map, FlyItalyADSB's data can be queried programmatically: a REST API for developers, and an MCP (Model Context Protocol) server that lets AI agents like Claude or ChatGPT answer questions about live air traffic anywhere in the world.

rest base url
api.flyitalyadsb.com/v2
mcp endpoint
flyitalyadsb.com/mcp
auth
X-Api-Key
rate limit
100/min/ip

REST API

Base URL https://api.flyitalyadsb.com/v2, JSON responses, authenticated via the X-Api-Key header.

GET /icao/{hex} One aircraft by 24-bit ICAO address.
GET /callsign/{callsign} One aircraft by callsign/flight number.
GET /reg/{reg} One aircraft by tail registration.
GET /lat/{lat}/lon/{lon}/dist/{km} Every aircraft within a radius of a point, full records — works anywhere in the world, not just Italy.
GET /mil Currently tracked military traffic.
GET /pia Aircraft with a Privacy ICAO Address.
GET /ladd Aircraft in the FAA Limiting Aircraft Data Displayed program.
GET /history/{icao} Dates with available history for an aircraft — see the historical archive.
GET /history/{icao}/{date} Full track (position, altitude, speed, heading) for one aircraft on one day.

Limit: 100 requests/minute per IP. Requests without X-Api-Key are rejected at the edge.

Commercial use is allowed within this limit. For higher volume, an SLA, or data resale you'll need an enterprise agreement — contact us.

MCP server for AI agents

The Model Context Protocol is the standard assistants like Claude or ChatGPT use to call external tools. Our server exposes four read-only tools at https://flyitalyadsb.com/mcp:

find_aircraft Look up one aircraft by ICAO hex, callsign, or registration.
aircraft_near Every aircraft within a radius of a point (or an Italian airport by name), full records — the most useful one.
special_traffic Currently tracked military, PIA (privacy), or LADD traffic.
aircraft_history One aircraft's historical track for a day, or the dates available — self-serve, recent days only.

How to connect it to Claude

  1. On claude.ai, open Settings → Connectors (from your profile menu).
  2. Click "Add custom connector".
  3. Paste the URL https://flyitalyadsb.com/mcp and give it a name, e.g. "FlyItalyADSB".
  4. In the connector's advanced settings, add a custom header: X-Api-Key with the key you got by email.
  5. Save, then try asking Claude something like "what aircraft are near Rome Fiumicino right now?"
claude.ai — Settings → Connectors
Name
FlyItalyADSB
Remote MCP server URL
https://flyitalyadsb.com/mcp
Custom headers (advanced)
X-Api-Key:‹your-key›

Illustrative mockup — your client's actual UI may look slightly different.

For other MCP clients

Any MCP client that supports Streamable HTTP with custom headers (ChatGPT, other assistants, your own code) works the same way — including a raw call: 

POST https://flyitalyadsb.com/mcp
Content-Type: application/json
X-Api-Key: <your-key>

{"jsonrpc":"2.0","id":1,"method":"tools/call","params":{"name":"aircraft_near","arguments":{"airport":"FCO","limit":5}}}

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an API key?

Yes, for both the REST API (api.flyitalyadsb.com/v2/*) and the MCP server (flyitalyadsb.com/mcp) — same key for both, passed in the X-Api-Key header. It's self-service and instant: just an email address, the key arrives by email within seconds, no manual approval.

How do I use the MCP server with Claude or ChatGPT?

Add https://flyitalyadsb.com/mcp as a connector/MCP server in your client's settings (e.g. Claude.ai → Settings → Connectors), supplying your X-Api-Key when asked. Then just ask things like "what's flying over Fiumicino right now?" or "any military traffic over Rome?" and the agent will call the tools automatically.

What can the MCP server do that the map can't?

It returns structured data (JSON) instead of a web page: look up one aircraft by ICAO hex/callsign/registration, list every aircraft within a radius of any point on the planet with full records, and pull filtered lists of military, PIA (privacy), or LADD traffic.

Is the network limited to Italy?

No. FlyItalyADSB was born in Italy but is a global network with 3,200+ direct feeders worldwide — both the REST API and the MCP tools accept coordinates anywhere on the planet, not just Italy.

How does this compare to other open ADS-B APIs (adsb.fi, airplanes.live, adsb.lol...)?

See the factual comparison at flyitalyadsb.com/en/dati/confronto: rate limits, feeder requirements, and commercial-use terms for each, compared without value judgments.

Get an API key

The REST API and the MCP server share the same key, passed in the X-Api-Key header. Instant and free: enter an email, the key arrives there — it's never shown on this page. Requesting again with the same email retires the old key and issues a new one (also how to recover a lost key).