Bring Flight Tracking
to VS Code Copilot
Create your Vinkius account to connect OpenSky Network to VS Code Copilot and start using all 8 AI tools in minutes. Fully managed, enterprise secure, and ready to use without writing a single line of code. No hosting, no server setup — just connect and start using.
GDPR Free for SubscribersCompatible with every major AI agent and IDE
Gemini
What is the OpenSky Network MCP Server?
Connect OpenSky Network to any AI agent and access global, open-source air traffic data -- track aircraft in real-time, view historical flights, and monitor airport activity through natural conversation.
What you can do
- Real-Time Tracking -- Get the current state of all tracked aircraft including altitude, velocity, and location
- Airport Monitoring -- View recent arrivals and departures for any ICAO airport code
- Aircraft History -- Retrieve recent flight history and tracks for specific aircraft by ICAO24 hex code
- Flight Intervals -- Get all flights that occurred within a specific time window
- Account Tracking -- Monitor your own registered aircraft (requires authentication)
How it works
- Subscribe to this server
- (Optional) Enter your OpenSky credentials for higher rate limits
- Start tracking global aviation data from Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-compatible client
OpenSky Network is the largest open-source air traffic data platform, providing free access to ADS-B and other aviation telemetry.
Who is this for?
- Aviation Enthusiasts -- Track specific aircraft and monitor local airport traffic
- Logistics Teams -- Monitor estimated arrival times and flight statuses
- Data Analysts -- Access historical flight data for trend analysis and research
Built-in capabilities (8)
Optionally filter by specific ICAO24 code. Get the states of all aircraft currently tracked by OpenSky
Get arrivals at a specific airport
Get departures from a specific airport
Get historical flights for a specific aircraft
Requires authentication. Get all flights in a specific time interval
Get historical flights for your own aircraft (requires authentication)
Get the states of your own aircraft (requires authentication)
Get recent tracks for a specific aircraft
Why VS Code Copilot?
GitHub Copilot Agent mode brings OpenSky Network data directly into your VS Code workflow. With a project-scoped config, the entire team shares access to 8 tools. Copilot queries live data, generates typed code, and writes tests from actual API responses, all without leaving the editor.
- —
VS Code is used by over 70% of developers. adding MCP tools to Copilot means your team can leverage external data without leaving their primary editor
- —
Project-scoped MCP configs (
.vscode/mcp.json) let you commit server configurations to your repository, ensuring the entire team shares the same tool access - —
Copilot's Agent mode integrates MCP tools seamlessly with file editing, terminal commands, and workspace search in a single agentic loop
- —
GitHub's enterprise compliance and audit features extend to MCP tool usage, providing visibility into how AI interacts with external services
OpenSky Network in VS Code Copilot
Why run OpenSky Network with Vinkius?
The OpenSky Network connection runs on our fully managed, secure cloud infrastructure. We handle the hosting, maintenance, and security so you don't have to deal with servers or code. All 8 tools are ready to work instantly without any complex setup.
You stay in complete control of your data. Your AI only accesses the information you approve, keeping your sensitive passwords and private details completely safe. Plus, with automatic optimizations, your AI works faster and more efficiently.
* Every connection is hosted and maintained by Vinkius. We handle the security, updates, and infrastructure so you don't have to write code or manage servers. See our infrastructure
Over 4,000 integrations ready for AI agents
Explore a vast library of pre-built integrations, optimized and ready to deploy.
Connect securely in under 30 seconds
Generate tokens to authenticate and link external services in a single step.
Complete visibility into every agent action
Audit live requests, latency, success rates, and active security compliance policies.
Optimize spending and track token ROI
Analyze real-time token consumption and cost metrics detailed by connection.
Explore our live AI Agents Analytics dashboard to see it all working
This dashboard is included when you connect OpenSky Network using Vinkius. You will never be left in the dark about what your AI agents are doing with your tools.
OpenSky Network and 4,000+ other AI tools. No hosting, no code, ready to use.
Professionals who connect OpenSky Network to VS Code Copilot through Vinkius don't need to write code, manage servers, or worry about security. Everything is pre-configured, secure, and runs automatically in the background.
Raw MCP | Vinkius | |
|---|---|---|
| Ready-to-use MCPs | Find and configure each manually | 4,000+ MCPs ready to use |
| Connection Setup | Manual coding & server setup | 1-click instant connection |
| Server Hosting | You host it yourself (needs 24/7 uptime) | 100% hosted & managed by Vinkius |
| Security & Privacy | Stored in plaintext config files | Bank-grade encrypted vault |
| Activity Visibility | Blind execution (no logs or tracking) | Live dashboard with real-time logs |
| Cost Control | Runaway AI token spend risk | Automatic budget limits |
| Revoking Access | Must delete files or code to stop | 1-click disconnect button |
How Vinkius secures
OpenSky Network for VS Code Copilot
Every request between VS Code Copilot and OpenSky Network is protected by our secure gateway. We automatically keep your sensitive data private, prevent unauthorized access, and let you disconnect instantly at any time.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an account to use the OpenSky API?
No, the basic API is free and open. However, creating a free account gives you higher rate limits and access to historical flight data.
How do I find the ICAO24 hex code for an aircraft?
You can use the get_all_states tool to see currently tracked aircraft, or look it up on external aviation databases like Planespotters.net.
Can I track flights at a specific airport?
Yes! Use get_arrivals or get_departures with the airport's ICAO code (e.g., KJFK for New York JFK) and a Unix timestamp range.
Can I retrieve flights for a specific time interval?
Yes! Use the get_flights_in_interval action with start and end Unix timestamps.
Which VS Code version supports MCP?
MCP support requires VS Code 1.99 or later with the GitHub Copilot extension. Ensure both are updated to the latest version. Older versions of Copilot may not expose the Agent mode toggle.
How do I switch to Agent mode?
Open the Copilot Chat panel and look for two mode options: "Ask" and "Agent". Click "Agent" to enable autonomous tool calling. In Ask mode, Copilot provides conversational answers but cannot invoke MCP tools.
Can I restrict which MCP tools Copilot can access?
Yes. VS Code shows a tool consent dialog before any MCP tool is invoked for the first time. You can also configure tool access policies at the organization level through GitHub Copilot settings.
Does MCP work in VS Code Remote or Codespaces?
Yes. MCP servers configured via .vscode/mcp.json work in Remote SSH, WSL, and GitHub Codespaces environments. The MCP connection is established from the remote host, so ensure the server URL is accessible from that environment.
MCP tools not available
Ensure you are in Agent mode in Copilot Chat. MCP tools only appear in Agent mode.
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