Airlines have been flying over the Arctic Circle and crossing the North Pole since the 1950s. Crossing this airspace was the only way of connecting Europe with South East Asia as the Soviet airspace was off-limits, almost impenetrable. Those that accidentally breached it, learned the hard way just how cold the Cold War was.
Polar Radar monitors air traffic over the North and South Poles, utilizing aircraft positioning data pulled from ADSB transponders. These transponders, which are installed on most modern aircraft, transmit positioning data to ground and satelite receivers. This data is the foundation of most airline radar applications, such as Flight Radar 24. They provide a map view showcasing the vast majority of the world's air traffic. However, these applications often have limitations when it comes to the polar regions, where coverage can be off-limits, distorted, or challenging to navigate. To address this gap, Polar Radar employs a polar projection approach, enabling the tracking of aircraft crossing the polar regions.
