United States Geological Survey shares tools to track air traffic
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Residents across Wilmington have reported seeing mysterious lights in the sky at night, sparking speculation that they could be drones or airplanes. While the exact cause remains unclear, we initially thought the sightings might be tied to a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) survey, which is mapping geology across several states.
However, the USGS only conducts their flights during the daylight hours, and the sightings from our viewers have been happening at night. So, it’s likely not the USGS aircraft.
What We Found Out
We reached out to the USGS, and they couldn’t confirm if their aircraft are responsible for the mysterious lights. But they did provide a way for you to check for yourself.
Websites like FlightAware and apps like Flight Radar allow you to see what’s flying and provide details on flight paths in real time.
To help you track the flights, here are the aircraft tag numbers you can search for:
- Airplanes: C-FOTW, C-GSGU, C-GSGV, N86RF, N141RF
- Helicopters: C-FXPL, C-GSGH
A USGS spokesperson told us:
“All of our aircraft are in accordance with FAA rules, and flight paths are publicly available. You can track them using aircraft tag numbers on websites like FlightAware or apps like Flight Radar.”
More About the USGS Survey
The USGS flights are part of an effort to map geology, rocks, and minerals across multiple states. These flights are set to continue through August 2025, but they only take place during the daylight hours.
Even though the lights you’re seeing may not be connected to the USGS flights, you can still track their aircraft using the resources mentioned above.
