COTAK utilizes a technology called ADS-B to track the locations of public safety-related aircraft. This technology is federally mandated for all aircraft to use in controlled airspace, and provides up-to-the-second tracking of aircraft when they are in view of ground tracking stations.

COTAK has partnered with ADS-B Exchange to utilize their data feed of real-time aircraft locations. Every 10 seconds ADS-B Exchange provides the locations of all aircraft over Colorado to COTAK. A process then filters out all non-public safety aircraft, and passes only the locations of public safety-related aircraft into the “Aircraft Tracking” channel in COTAK, which is available to all COTAK users. 

Note that an aircraft only will show up in this feed if at least one ADS-B Exchange ground station is receiving the ADS-B signal of the aircraft. If you wish to improve the aircraft tracking coverage in your jurisdiction you may set up your own ADS-B Exchange ground station, and by doing so you will improve the aircraft tracking coverage for COTAK in your area.