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 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.

Limit: 300 requests/minute per IP. Requests without X-Api-Key are rejected at the edge.

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 three 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.

To connect it, add the URL as a connector in your MCP client (e.g. Claude.ai → Settings → Connectors), with your X-Api-Key when asked: 

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}}}

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).