Each aircraft in PlaneConnection is assigned an operational status that determines its availability for dispatch and scheduling. Aircraft statuses are managed in the operations module.
Status Summary
| Status | Database Value | Dispatch Available | Description |
|---|
| Active | active | Yes | Aircraft is airworthy and available for operations. |
| Maintenance | maintenance | No | Aircraft is undergoing scheduled or unscheduled maintenance. |
| Sold | sold | No | Aircraft has been sold and is no longer part of the fleet. |
| Retired | retired | No | Aircraft has been permanently removed from service. |
Detailed Status Definitions
Active
The aircraft is airworthy, current on all required inspections, and available for dispatch. Active aircraft appear in the scheduling and dispatch views and can be assigned to trips.
Dispatch impact: Available for assignment. The aircraft appears in dispatch selection lists and fleet availability dashboards.
Requirements: The aircraft must have current airworthiness certification, completed required inspections (annual, progressive, or other applicable inspection programs), and no open MEL items that would prevent dispatch for the planned mission.
Maintenance
The aircraft is undergoing maintenance and is not available for dispatch. This status applies to both scheduled maintenance events (inspections, overhauls, modifications) and unscheduled maintenance (repairs, MEL deferrals, AD compliance).
Dispatch impact: Unavailable. The aircraft is removed from dispatch selection lists. Any confirmed trips assigned to this aircraft are flagged for reassignment.
Returning to active: When maintenance is complete and the aircraft is returned to service, the status is changed back to active by maintenance personnel or an admin.
Sold
The aircraft has been sold and transferred to a new owner. It is permanently removed from the fleet’s operational aircraft. Historical records (flights, maintenance, safety reports) associated with the aircraft are retained.
Dispatch impact: Permanently unavailable. The aircraft does not appear in any operational views.
Data retention: All historical records remain in the system for regulatory compliance and record-keeping purposes.
Retired
The aircraft has been permanently removed from service without sale — for example, due to age, damage beyond economical repair, or conversion to a static display or parts source. Like sold aircraft, historical records are retained.
Dispatch impact: Permanently unavailable. The aircraft does not appear in any operational views.
Data retention: All historical records remain in the system for regulatory compliance and record-keeping purposes.
Status Transition Rules
| From | To | Permitted Roles | Conditions |
|---|
| Active | Maintenance | Dispatcher, admin | Maintenance event created or unscheduled grounding |
| Maintenance | Active | Admin | Maintenance complete, return-to-service documented |
| Active | Sold | Admin | Sale recorded |
| Active | Retired | Admin | Retirement reason documented |
| Maintenance | Sold | Admin | Sale recorded |
| Maintenance | Retired | Admin | Retirement reason documented |
Aircraft in sold or retired status cannot be transitioned back to active or maintenance. These are terminal statuses.
Aircraft Record Fields
| Field | Type | Description |
|---|
tail_number | String | FAA registration number (N-number). |
type | String | Aircraft type/model (e.g., Citation XLS+, King Air 350). |
serial_number | String | Manufacturer’s serial number. |
status | Enum | Current operational status. |
home_base | String | Home airport (ICAO code). |
total_time | Number | Total airframe hours. |
total_cycles | Number | Total airframe cycles (landings). |
seating_capacity | Number | Maximum passenger seating configuration. |
created_at | Timestamp | Record creation timestamp (UTC). |
updated_at | Timestamp | Last modification timestamp (UTC). |
