> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.planeconnection.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How to Configure Crew Preferences

> Set scheduling preferences, aircraft preferences, home base, and availability constraints for crew members.

By the end of this guide, you will have configured crew scheduling preferences including aircraft preferences, home base settings, and availability constraints that the scheduling system uses when assigning crew to trips.

<Info>
  The Operations module must be enabled for your workspace. You also need the appropriate operations
  permissions. Contact your workspace administrator if you cannot access these features.
</Info>

<Info>
  Viewing preferences requires `crew.read` permission. Editing preferences requires `crew.update`
  permission or ownership of the crew profile.
</Info>

## Navigate to crew preferences

Open the Operations sidebar, expand the **Crew** group, and click **Preferences**.

**Breadcrumb path:** Ops > Crew > Preferences

The preferences landing page shows a summary of all crew members and their configured preferences.

## View your own preferences

Crew members can view their own preferences from the Preferences page. Each crew member sees their current settings for aircraft preferences, home base, and scheduling constraints.

## Edit crew preferences

<Steps>
  ### Step 1: Open the edit form

  Navigate to **Ops > Crew > Preferences > Edit** or click **Edit** from the preferences summary.

  ### Step 2: Set aircraft preferences

  Select preferred aircraft from the fleet list. Aircraft preferences influence the scheduling system when multiple qualified crew members are available for a trip.

  ### Step 3: Configure home base

  Set the crew member's home base airport (ICAO code). The home base affects:

  * Positioning leg calculations for trip assignments
  * Per diem eligibility when traveling away from base
  * Commute time estimates for duty time planning

  ### Step 4: Set availability constraints

  Configure recurring availability patterns:

  | Constraint         | Description                                           |
  | ------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------- |
  | **Preferred days** | Days of the week the crew member prefers to fly.      |
  | **Blocked days**   | Days of the week the crew member cannot fly.          |
  | **Max duty days**  | Maximum consecutive duty days before requiring rest.  |
  | **RON preference** | Preferred remain-overnight locations or restrictions. |

  ### Step 5: Save preferences

  Click **Save** to apply the preferences.
</Steps>

<Tip>
  Preferences are advisory, not mandatory. Schedulers and the automated assignment system use
  preferences as a ranking factor, but operational requirements take priority. A crew member with a
  blocked day preference can still be manually assigned to a trip on that day if needed.
</Tip>

## Aircraft qualifications vs. preferences

Aircraft qualifications and preferences serve different purposes:

| Aspect               | Qualification                                       | Preference                                         |
| -------------------- | --------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------- |
| **Purpose**          | Legal authority to operate the aircraft             | Scheduling optimization                            |
| **Enforcement**      | Hard block -- cannot be overridden                  | Soft preference -- can be overridden by schedulers |
| **Set by**           | Admin or crew manager with `crew.update` permission | Crew member or manager                             |
| **Regulatory basis** | 14 CFR Part 61 (type ratings, certificates)         | None -- operational convenience                    |

Qualifications are managed on the individual crew detail page under the **Currency** tab. Preferences are managed on the Crew Preferences page.

## Schedule assignment types

Administrators can configure custom assignment types that appear in the crew schedule. These types control how schedule entries interact with trip assignments:

| Setting             | Purpose                                                     |
| ------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Name**            | Display name for the assignment type (e.g., "Training").    |
| **Color**           | Color code used on the schedule grid.                       |
| **Flight conflict** | Whether this assignment blocks flight trip assignment.      |
| **Terminates RON**  | Whether this assignment ends a remain-overnight sequence.   |
| **Day of work**     | Whether this counts as a working day for duty calculations. |

## Related

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Manage Crew" href="/how-to/ops/manage-crew">
    Add crew members and manage qualifications that determine assignment eligibility.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Manage Crew Bids" href="/how-to/ops/manage-crew-bids">
    How crew bidding uses preferences as a factor in bid evaluation.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Manage Schedule" href="/how-to/ops/manage-schedule">
    View and manage the crew schedule grid.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Crew Scheduling Reference" href="/reference/crew-scheduling">
    Schedule statuses, assignment types, and scheduling constraints.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>