Vigilant Aerospace Systems FlightHorizon ALERT

History

FlightHorizon ALERT is a low-altitude airspace monitoring and alerting system developed by Vigilant Aerospace Systems. It detects cooperative signals from crewed aircraft and drones and presents the traffic on a web-based three-dimensional map.

The system is intended for general aviation airports, critical infrastructure, industrial sites, campuses, and other facilities that require awareness of nearby air traffic. Automated notifications reduce the need for personnel to watch the display continuously.

Vigilant Aerospace introduced FlightHorizon ALERT as a managed subscription service in July 2026. The subscription includes preconfigured sensing equipment, software access, traffic logging, automated alerts, and remote service management.

The system builds on the broader FlightHorizon airspace-management technology previously deployed at Infinity One Spaceport in western Oklahoma and Gorman Field in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Vigilant Aerospace states that the underlying software incorporates work conducted for the United States Air Force and technology covered by two licensed NASA patents.

The July 2026 launch made the service available to customers with a single receiver unit or a multi-node installation. The manufacturer's feature description presents it as a rapidly deployable alternative to surveillance installations that require radar towers or dedicated technical personnel.

Design

Sensor unit

A standard installation uses a preconfigured, weather-rated outdoor receiver unit and associated antennas. The equipment receives Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast, known as ADS-B, from equipped aircraft and Remote ID broadcasts from drones. One unit processes both types of traffic.

Remote ID reception supports Bluetooth Low Energy, Bluetooth Long Range, Wi-Fi Beacon, and Wi-Fi Neighbor Awareness Networking, also known as Wi-Fi Aware. Detection therefore depends on compatible aircraft transponders or drone beacons transmitting the supported signals.

Traffic display

Authorized users access the system through a standard web browser. Aircraft and drone tracks appear together on a shared three-dimensional moving map. Available transmitted identification information can also be displayed.

Users can define inclusion and exclusion zones around runways, approach areas, ramps, facility perimeters, industrial sites, and other monitored locations. The software can generate an alert when a tracked object enters or violates a configured zone.

Alerts and event replay

FlightHorizon ALERT provides visual and audible warnings through its interface and can send text-message or email notifications. Each notification includes a secure link to a replay of the event.

The replay shows where the aircraft or drone entered the alert zone, its recorded speed, its subsequent route, and any available beacon identification. This gives personnel a recorded sequence for incident review and documentation.

Logging and analysis

The service continuously records detected air traffic. Its web application provides visualization, reporting, and analysis functions. Available summaries include counts of unique aircraft and drones, activity by time of day, altitude distributions, and traffic-type information.

Detailed records can be exported as CSV files for operational reviews, audits, compliance work, or integration with other systems. Historical data allows users to examine an event without relying only on eyewitness reports.

Deployment and service

Vigilant Aerospace configures and tests the hardware for each site before shipment and provisions software access in advance. A typical installation places the outdoor unit in an elevated, unobstructed position on a building or hangar. The standard setup uses an Ethernet connection with Power over Ethernet.

Locations without convenient fixed internet access can use cellular or Starlink satellite connectivity. Larger sites can deploy multiple sensor nodes, with their data combined under the same user account.

Vigilant Aerospace manages the service through its central data center and remotely monitors the software and associated services. For airport installations, the company also assists customers with the FAA form required for antenna installation.

Applications

FlightHorizon ALERT is designed to monitor low-altitude traffic around runways, approach surfaces, ramps, perimeters, restricted areas, industrial facilities, and campuses. It provides awareness and event records for unexpected aircraft or drone activity but is described as a monitoring and alerting system rather than an interception system.

The service was accepting subscriptions following its 2026 introduction. No individual FlightHorizon ALERT customer installations or named operators were identified in the available launch information.

Specifications (FlightHorizon ALERT)

General characteristics

• Type: Managed low-altitude airspace monitoring and alerting system
• Developer: Vigilant Aerospace Systems
• Service model: Subscription including sensor hardware and software access
• Traffic sources: ADS-B In transmissions from equipped aircraft and Remote ID broadcasts from drones
• Remote ID reception: Bluetooth Low Energy, Bluetooth Long Range, Wi-Fi Beacon, and Wi-Fi Neighbor Awareness Networking
• Standard sensor arrangement: One preconfigured weather-rated outdoor receiver unit with antennas
• Expanded coverage: Multiple receiver nodes connected to one account
• User interface: Secure browser-based three-dimensional moving map
• Alert methods: Visual, audible, text-message, and email notifications
• Event review: Secure replay link with track, speed, route, and available identification data
• Data functions: Continuous traffic logging, reporting, analysis, and CSV export
• Standard connection: Ethernet with Power over Ethernet
• Optional connectivity: Cellular or Starlink satellite connection