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Set Up Your Fleet

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, 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 Flight Operations.
  • In the sidebar, click Aircraft.
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    You will see the Aircraft Management 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.
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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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    Aircraft type: Select the general aircraft type:
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  • Jet
  • Turboprop
  • Piston
  • Helicopter
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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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    StatusMeaningActiveThe aircraft is operational and available for schedulingMaintenanceThe aircraft is currently in maintenance and not available for tripsAOG (Aircraft on Ground)The aircraft is grounded due to a mechanical or regulatory issueInactiveThe aircraft is temporarily not in 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 Management page, where your new aircraft now appears in the fleet table with columns for:
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    ColumnWhat it showsAircraftRegistration, make, and modelStatusCurrent status with color-coded badgeHoursTotal flight hoursLandingsTotal landingsLast LocationThe last known location of the aircraftActionsEdit and manage options

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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 Management page becomes your fleet dashboard. 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 aircraft name, status, hours, or landings. Update status: Change an aircraft’s status when it enters or exits maintenance, goes AOG, or returns to active service. View aircraft locations: The Aircraft Locations section below the fleet table shows a map view with the last known position of each aircraft, updated from trip completion data. Track utilization: Hours and landings update automatically as trips are completed and flight logs are filed.

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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
    Dispatch boardSee aircraft assignments and availability at a glance
    ScheduleAircraft appear on the operations calendar alongside crew
    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

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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.