> ## 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 Manage Aircraft

> Add aircraft to your fleet, edit details, track hours and landings, manage operational statuses, and retire aircraft.

By the end of this guide, you will have added aircraft to your fleet, configured their details, managed operational statuses, and retired aircraft when they leave your operation.

<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>
  You need the `aircraft.create` or `aircraft.update` permission depending on the action. Have the
  aircraft's FAA registration (N-number), make, model, and current total time/cycles ready.
</Info>

## Add a new aircraft

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

  Go to **Ops > Aircraft** and click **Add Aircraft**.

  ### Step 2: Enter aircraft details

  Provide the tail number (N-number), make, model, and optionally the serial number and year. Status defaults to **Active**.

  ### Step 3: Save the aircraft

  Click **Save Aircraft**. The aircraft is immediately available for trip assignment and scheduling.
</Steps>

<Tip>
  After creation, open the aircraft detail page to add the home base airport, seating capacity,
  insurance expiry, and registration expiry. These fields drive scheduling validations and due-item
  alerts.
</Tip>

## Edit aircraft details

1. Go to **Ops > Aircraft** and click the aircraft row you want to edit.
2. Click **Edit** to modify any field.
3. Click **Save** when finished.

## Change aircraft status

To change an aircraft's operational status (Active, Maintenance, AOG, Storage, or Retired):

1. Open the aircraft detail page.
2. Select the new status from the **Status** dropdown.
3. Enter the reason or details (maintenance event, estimated return date, or retirement reason).
4. Click **Save**.

<Note>
  Changing an aircraft to Maintenance or AOG flags any scheduled trips for reassignment. Dispatchers
  receive a notification and affected trips appear in conflict alerts. For full status definitions,
  see [Aircraft Statuses](/en/reference/aircraft-statuses).
</Note>

## Set initial hours and landings

<Warning>
  If you are migrating from another system, set the initial total time and total cycles accurately
  on the aircraft detail page. These values are the baseline for all maintenance due-item
  calculations.
</Warning>

Hours and landings update automatically when flight logs are posted. You can view current totals on the aircraft detail page under the **Overview** tab.

## View the 3D aircraft model

When the 3D aircraft viewer is enabled for your workspace, the aircraft detail page
displays an interactive 3D model of the aircraft in the page header alongside the
summary card.

* **Rotate** — Click and drag to orbit the model.
* **Zoom** — Scroll or pinch to zoom in and out.
* **Reset** — Double-click to return to the default view angle.

The viewer automatically selects the closest available 3D model based on your aircraft
make and model. Over 180 aircraft types are represented with textured models.

<Note>
  The 3D viewer is a feature that can be enabled by your workspace administrator. If you do not see
  it on the aircraft detail page, contact your admin or reach out to support.
</Note>

## Generate a full aircraft report

1. Open the aircraft detail page.
2. Click **Full Report** in the page header.
3. Click **Export** to download as PDF or CSV.

The report includes specifications, hour/landing totals, maintenance history, open discrepancies, and trip history.

## Retire an aircraft

Retiring permanently removes an aircraft from dispatch and scheduling. Historical records are retained for regulatory compliance.

1. Ensure the aircraft has no active or upcoming trips.
2. Open the aircraft detail page.
3. Change the status to **Retired** and document the reason.
4. Click **Save**.

<Warning>
  Retired is a terminal status -- the aircraft cannot be reactivated. If an aircraft returns to your
  fleet after sale, create a new aircraft record.
</Warning>

## Related

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Aircraft Statuses" href="/reference/aircraft-statuses">
    Status definitions, transition rules, and fleet impact.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Track Due Items" href="/how-to/ops/track-due-items">
    Monitor maintenance due items calculated from hours and cycles.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Create a Trip" href="/how-to/ops/create-trip">
    Assign aircraft to trips after fleet setup.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Reports: Aircraft" href="/reference/reports-aircraft">
    Fleet utilization and tracking reports.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>