Getting started is very easy... Just download the SkyGlass app, create a username and boom you're SkyRiding!
​
Here are the exact steps to follow...
​
Sign Up to the aviarlabs.com website at the top right to create and verify your website account. You will create your SkyGlass app username in a later step.
​
Download and Install the SkyGlass app from the Downloads page.
​
Launch the SkyGlass app. Choose a username and password, enter your email address* and click CREATE. ​*​Be sure to use the same email address as your aviarlabs.com website account.​ NOTE : Your SkyGlass app username cannot include special characters.
​
​You will get an activation email from registration@skyglass.io. Be sure to check your spam box! Click the activation link to activate your new SkyGlass login.
​
Log into the SkyGlass app and explore for as long as your free-trial lasts. Each new user gets a 14 day free trial.
​
Return to this website and purchase a subscription from the Plans & Pricing page. *Be sure to use the same email when you checkout!! When your paid subscription begins you will see updated details at the SkyGlass app login screen. Please allow a few days for the system to update.
When your free trial ends and your paid subscription begins, you will see an updated renewal-date at the welcome panel when you sign into the SkyGlass app. If you have "auto-login" enabled, you will by-pass the welcome panel. To show the welcome panel after you have Entered SkyGlass, click on the "profile" button in the auxiliary button stack.
PLEASE NOTE... Onboarding to the SkyGlass platform requires creating TWO accounts...
​
1. First is your website account where you purchase and manage your subscription.
​
2. The second is your SkyGlass app username which you create inside the SkyGlass app.
​
In order for your SkyGlass subscription to function, ALL email addresses must match. Here on the website, inside the SkyGlass app and when you make your website subscription purchase.
~ • ~
If for any reason you get locked out of the app or have trouble signing in, please reach out via the Support Form or by using the "Need Help?" chat bubble at the bottom of the website.
A quick note about the two modes, Mil-Mode and Standard Mode.
Mil-Ops mode is the default mode for SkyGlass which is indicated by a fighter icon at the top of the main button stack (bottom right of the screen) and an orange circle icon background. Mil-Mode shows all military aircraft worldwide. The search radius does not apply in Mil-Ops Mode.
You can switch to Standard Mode by clicking the start-rank icon (just above the aircraft traces icon) in the main button stack. That will activate a home location input panel and search radius slider. (more on that below) and the icon at the top of the main button stack will change to a commercial jet icon with a blue background .
The User Interface
The primary UI is the main button stack in the bottom right corner of the screen.
The auxiliary button stack is the group of button to the left of the main button stack.
Depending on your current settings, more UI panels will stack up and build out to the left of the auxiliary button stack. You can minimize all the auxiliary stacked panels using the bottom button in the main stack.
How do I move around?
For desktop....
After you've entered SkyGlass use your mouse left-button to move and right-button to rotate the camera.
If you have a single button mouse use Ctrl + Click + Drag to rotate.
Option (Alt) + Click + Drag will raise and lower the camera POV.
Scroll wheel will zoom the camera in and out. !
Keyboard Camera Controls:
WASD keys to move the camera.
Arrow keys rotate the camera.
Q/E keys will raise and lower the camera.
For mobile versions...
1-touch drag to move the map.
To rotate, first collapse the main UI (bottom button in the main button stack, bottom right corner of the screen) and 1-touch in the bottom right 1/4 of the screen to pop up a camera rotation joystick.
2 finger touch pinch/pull to zoom in and out.
3 finger touch up/down to elevate the camera.
How do I load traffic?
To load a snapshot of current traffic click the top button in the button stack. This will load a snapshot of the live traffic based on your current mode, filter and search parameters.
To keep the traffic continually refreshing click the auto-refresh button, just below the main button main button stack.
Use your mouse to hover over traffic to load aircraft details. If you have traces activated, clicking on an aircraft will load or unload the trace. Right click on the aircraft to add it to your watchlist.
How do I change my home location?
To change your home location, which is the center of your search radius when in standard mode, do the following:
Make sure the location input panel is visible by turning on the location input toggle in the auxiliary button stack, ("target" icon in the aux-button stack). This opens the input panel which looks like this:
Next, enter a place name, such as a city, zip code, airport code, or other natural language identifier into the input field and hit Enter/Return key or click the "target" button to the right of the input field, and your home location and camera will reset to the new location. On mobile devices, there is an extra button next to the target which will set your home location to the devices' current GPS location.
How do I use the Relative Height Slider?
One unique feature of SkyGlass is the ability to stretch & squish the vertical axis changing each objects relative altitude. This makes SkyGlass more than just a traffic simulator but a dynamic and novel visualization tool. Activate the height adjustment slider using the vertical slider button in the auxiliary button stack, then drag to adjust the relative height of all aircraft, traces and other height specific objects.
How do I see just military traffic?
SkyGlass has two modes, standard mode and mil-ops mode. SkyGlass defaults to Mil-Ops mode at startup as indicated by the green shield icon in the auxiliary button stack.
Standard mode loads traffic within the defined search radius around the current home location. Mil-Ops loads all military traffic world wide.
Note that Mil-Ops mode loads all mil-traffic world-wide. When you switch into Mil-Mode, the location input panel will be hidden.
Important notes...
Use the Burn button (flame icon in the aux-button stack) to clear all loaded traffic and traces after switching modes or changing home locations.
It is important to clear all loaded traffic when you switch modes or change your home location parameters as any prior loaded traffic will not update unless it's within the search radius. Not-burning can lead to inaccurate results.
The Burn button will clear all loaded traffic as well as stop any loading actions.
Finally, be sure to watch the Intro to SkyGlass here !
Please review the Onboarding Page section on minimum system requirements for additional details, but here is a quick overview:
SkyGlass is fully functional on desktop computers. Minimum operating systems are as follows:
Windows 10 or Windows 11 (64-bit)
macOS 11 (Big Sur) or later
A mobile version for iOS / iPadOS is in public beta: Public Beta test
Android is unfortunately not working currently but we are working on an update which will be available in the Google Play store when ready.
SkyGlass is not available as a browser based app. It will not run a browser.
Linux operating system users can run SkyGlass for Windows using the latest Wine emulator. We are currently in private beta testing of a native Linux version. Follow us on Discord for more update on that development effort or to join the linux beta.
Chromebook is not a supported platform at this time.
To cancel your subscription, navigate to your account subscription page, show the details of your subscription and click on the Cancel Subscription link.
First go to your account dropdown menu...
Next find your subs...
Get the details...
Cancel your sub...