VatView

VatView is a cross-platform mobile app for tracking live VATSIM data — pilots, ATC controllers, airports, and events — on an interactive map.

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Features

• Live VATSIM map with pilot and ATC markers, updated every 20 seconds
• Type-specific aircraft icons for 50+ aircraft types
• Real FIR/UIR and TRACON boundary polygons
• Airport markers with staffed ATC positions and traffic count badges
• Progressive disclosure detail panels for pilots, controllers, and airports
• Pilot and controller list view with map jump
• Events and ATC bookings
• METAR weather search
• Light and dark themes
• Landscape orientation support

Documentation

Release Notes · Privacy Policy

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Development Setup

Prerequisites

• Node.js
• Expo CLI
• For native builds: Xcode (iOS) or Android Studio (Android)

Install & Run

npm install
npm start          # Start Expo dev client
npm run ios        # Build and run on iOS simulator
npm run android    # Build and run on Android
npm run lint       # Run ESLint

Firebase & API Keys

This app uses Firebase (Crashlytics, Analytics) and Google Maps. The config files are not included in the repository. To run native builds locally you need to supply your own:

• google-services.json — Android Firebase config (place in project root)
• GoogleService-Info.plist — iOS Firebase config (place in project root)
• A Google Maps API key configured in app.config.js

For contributors:

1. Copy .env.example to .env.local and fill in your Google Maps API key (get one at console.cloud.google.com):

cp .env.example .env.local

2. Create a free Firebase project at console.firebase.google.com, then download and place in the project root:
   • google-services.json (Android)
   • GoogleService-Info.plist (iOS)

All these files are gitignored and will never be committed.

Production Builds (EAS)

npx eas-cli@latest build --profile production          # Build both platforms
npx eas-cli@latest submit -p ios --latest              # Submit to App Store Connect
npx eas-cli@latest submit -p android --latest          # Submit to Google Play

OTA updates (JS-only changes):

npx eas-cli@latest update --branch production --message "Description of fix"

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License

This project is source-available under a custom license. You may view, run, and contribute to the code for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution as a standalone app is not permitted. See LICENSE for full terms.

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Assets Attribution

Aircraft SVG icons from FSTrAk. App icons made by Freepik from Flaticon.