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

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)