I know our Australian friends have been playing about with Aircraft Scatter a bit… I recently came across some software via another forum (yes there are some out there… ) that could be of use to someone.
I use FlightRadar24, installed on an iPad to monitor the position of aircraft. Aircraft Enhancement on 2m and 70cm is a very exciting mode and offers many rewards to those who have loads of patience.
My first 2m AE S2S (March 2013) was with Allen VK3HRA at a distance of 494 km.
The problem is that time on a summit is usually quite limited for one reason or another. When activating in GM/SS I often experience enhanced signals between the Midlands and Scotland when planes fly the Birmingham - Glasgow / Edinburgh routes. However, I would not have time to check out possibilities using prediction software. For me it is what it is, an added bonus which may or may not produce results. I class it in the same category as ducting - great if you get it, but do not expect it to happen.
Memories of working Don G0RQL in Devon from GM/SI-110 Knap of Trowieglen on the island of Hoy at a distance of 887km (551 miles) still ranks as one of my favourite moments in SOTA. GM7UAU, G4UXH, G1ZJQ, M0JDK and G0TRB were worked in sequence as the duct lengthened.