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Your fleet is the foundation of the Operations module. Before you can create trips, assign aircraft to flights, or track utilization, you need to add your aircraft to PlaneConnection. In this tutorial, you will add an aircraft to your fleet and configure its essential details. By the end of this tutorial, you will have at least one aircraft in your fleet, ready to be assigned to trips and tracked on the dispatch board.
Who should do this tutorial? Operations managers, dispatchers, and admins who manage the fleet. You will need Admin or appropriate operations permissions to add and configure aircraft.

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Before you start

Make sure you have:
  • An active PlaneConnection account with Admin permissions
  • Logged in to your workspace in the Operations module (see the Quickstart if you need help)
  • Your aircraft details on hand: registration number, make, model, serial number, and current hours/landings

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Adding your first aircraft

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Navigate to the aircraft page
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  • Make sure you are in the Operations module. Check the module switcher at the top of the sidebar — it should show “Operations.” If it shows “Safety,” click the switcher and select Operations.
  • In the sidebar, click Aircraft under the Fleet group.
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    You will see the Aircraft page. If this is your first time here, the list will be empty with a message indicating no aircraft have been added.
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    Click Add Aircraft
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    Click the Add Aircraft button in the upper area of the page. This opens the aircraft creation form.
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    Enter the registration and aircraft details
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    Fill in the following fields:
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    Registration number (tail number): Enter the aircraft’s FAA registration number (e.g., N12345). This is the primary identifier for the aircraft throughout the platform and is displayed in monospace uppercase formatting.
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    The registration number must be unique within your workspace. Each aircraft in your fleet needs a distinct registration number.
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    Make: Enter the aircraft manufacturer (e.g., Cessna, Gulfstream, Bombardier, Embraer).
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    Model: Enter the aircraft model (e.g., Citation CJ3+, G650, Challenger 350, Phenom 300E).
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    Serial number: Enter the aircraft serial number. This is displayed in monospace formatting throughout the platform.
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    Year: Enter the year of manufacture (optional but useful for fleet reports).
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    Set the home base
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    Home base airport: Enter the airport where this aircraft is primarily based. You can use the ICAO code (e.g., KTEB), IATA code (e.g., TEB), or airport name.
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    The home base is used for:
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  • Positioning flight calculations
  • Default departure airport when creating trips
  • Fleet location tracking on the dispatch board
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    Enter current hours and landings
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    To start tracking aircraft utilization accurately, enter the current totals:
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    Total hours: The total flight hours on the aircraft (or airframe hours). Enter this as a decimal value (e.g., 4521.3).
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    Total landings: The total number of landings recorded for this aircraft (e.g., 3890).
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    Get these numbers from your aircraft’s current flight log or maintenance records. Accurate starting values ensure that utilization tracking is correct from day one. If you are unsure, enter your best estimate and update it once you have the exact figures.
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    Set the aircraft status
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    Choose the initial status for this aircraft:
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    StatusColorMeaningActiveGreenThe aircraft is operational and available for schedulingMaintenanceYellowThe aircraft is currently in maintenance and not available for tripsAOG (Aircraft on Ground)RedThe aircraft is grounded due to a mechanical or regulatory issueStorageGrayThe aircraft is in long-term storage and not in active service
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    For a newly added aircraft, set the status to Active if it is ready to fly.
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    Save the aircraft
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    Review all the fields and click Save to add the aircraft to your fleet.
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    You are returned to the Aircraft page, where your new aircraft now appears in the fleet table. At the top of the page, four stat cards show fleet-level summaries:
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    Stat CardWhat it showsActiveCount of aircraft with active status (green)In MaintenanceCount of aircraft in maintenance (yellow)Total HoursSum of all flight hours across the fleetTotal CyclesSum of all landings across the fleet
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    The fleet table shows the following columns:
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    ColumnWhat it showsAircraftRegistration (bold, monospace) and make/modelStatusCurrent status with a color-coded labelHoursTotal flight hoursLandingsTotal landingsLocationLast known airport (ICAO code, monospace)Next DueMost urgent due item with a color-coded badge and days remainingOpen SquawksCount of open discrepancies (red badge if any)ActionsView, Full Report, Edit, and Delete

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    Exploring the aircraft detail page

    Click on any aircraft in the fleet table to open its detail page. The detail page has five tabs:
    TabWhat it contains
    OverviewAircraft information (registration, make, model, year, serial, home base, owner), current status (location, total hours, total cycles, insurance and registration expiry), upcoming due items, and open discrepancies
    MaintenanceFull due items table and discrepancy log for this aircraft
    UtilizationMonthly hours flown (bar chart, last 12 months) and cumulative hours over time (line chart)
    FinancialOperating cost per hour, maintenance cost trend, and revenue if the aircraft is used for charter
    HistoryTimeline of all events: flights, maintenance, status changes, and discrepancies

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    Adding more aircraft

    Repeat the steps above for each aircraft in your fleet. Each aircraft gets its own entry with its own registration, hours, and status.
    If you have a large fleet, consider adding all aircraft before you start creating trips. This ensures that all aircraft are available for selection when dispatchers and pilots create trips.

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    Managing your fleet after setup

    Once your aircraft are added, the Aircraft page becomes your fleet management hub. Here is what you can do: Search and filter: Use the search bar to find aircraft by registration number, make, or model. Sort the table: Click column headers to sort by any column including aircraft name, status, hours, landings, or next due item. Update status: Change an aircraft’s status when it enters or exits maintenance, goes AOG, or returns to active service. The status label color updates immediately. Track utilization: Hours and landings update automatically as trips are completed and flight logs are filed. Monitor due items: The Next Due column shows the most urgent due item for each aircraft, color-coded: green for current (more than 60 days), yellow for due soon (30-60 days), orange for due soon (under 30 days), and red for overdue.

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    Fleet data in other modules

    Your fleet data flows throughout PlaneConnection:
    WhereHow fleet data is used
    Trip creationSelect aircraft for trips from the fleet list (only active aircraft appear)
    Dispatch boardSee aircraft assignments and availability with status dots
    ScheduleAircraft appear on the operations calendar alongside crew
    Command CenterAircraft appear in the fleet timeline with flight bars
    ReportsGenerate aircraft utilization, monthly totals, and time charts
    Safety reportsLink safety reports to specific aircraft by tail number
    Maintenance trackingTrack maintenance due items against aircraft hours and cycles

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    Next steps

    Manage Your Crew

    Add crew members and assign them roles so they can be scheduled for trips.

    Create Your First Trip

    Now that you have aircraft, create your first trip and assign it to your fleet.
    Last modified on April 11, 2026