Pre-Flight Checklist
Before you begin, have the following ready:
- Your aircraft's N-number (tail number)
- Current airframe total time (tachometer or Hobbs)
- Engine data: manufacturer, model, serial number, and current hours
- Propeller data: manufacturer, model, serial number, and current hours (if applicable)
Tip: Keep your aircraft logbooks nearby for reference—you'll need accurate time values for proper maintenance tracking.
The 5-Step Wizard
The FAA Wizard guides you through setting up your aircraft with data from the FAA registry. Here's what happens at each step:
Step 1: Tail Number & Aircraft Info
- Tap the + button on the Aircraft List screen (or add your first aircraft after signing up)
- Tap "Select..." next to Tail Number
- Start typing your N-number (e.g., "N1903X")
- Select your aircraft from the search results
- Review the auto-filled information:
- Manufacturer and model
- Serial number
- Engine manufacturer and model
- Enter your Current Airframe Time
- Verify the Number of Powerplants
- Toggle Has Propeller if your aircraft has a propeller
- Tap Next to continue
Step 1: Search by tail number and review auto-filled aircraft data
Note: If your aircraft isn't in the FAA database (experimental, foreign-registered, or recently registered), you can skip the search and enter all information manually.
Step 2: Powerplant Info
Enter details for each engine:
- Verify the Manufacturer (e.g., "LYCOMING")
- Verify or enter the Model (e.g., "O-320-D2A")
- Enter the Serial Number from the engine data plate
- Enter Current Tach Time (current tachometer hours)
- Enter Major Overhaul Time (time at last major overhaul)
- For multi-engine aircraft, repeat for each engine
- Tap Next to continue
Step 2: Enter engine manufacturer, model, serial number, and times
Understanding Times: If your engine has never been overhauled, enter the same value for both Current Tach Time and Major Overhaul Time. If it has been overhauled, enter the time when the overhaul was performed.
Step 3: Propeller Info
If you enabled "Has Propeller" in Step 1:
- Enter the Manufacturer (e.g., "McCauley", "Hartzell")
- Enter the Model
- Enter the Serial Number
- Enter Current Tach Time
- Enter Major Overhaul Time
- Tap Next to continue
Step 3: Enter propeller details and times
Step 4: Inspection Types
Select which inspections to track for your aircraft:
- Browse available inspection types:
- Annual Inspection - Required yearly for Part 91 aircraft
- 100-Hour Inspection - Required for aircraft used for hire
- Pitot/Static Inspection - Required every 24 calendar months for IFR
- Transponder Inspection - Required every 24 calendar months
- ELT Inspection - Required annually
- Tap to select each inspection type you want to track
- Selected items show a checkmark
- Tap Next to continue
Step 4: Select inspections to track for your aircraft
Note: You can always add or remove inspection types later from the Aircraft Setup screen.
Step 5: Maintenance Types
Select recurring maintenance items to track:
- Browse available maintenance types:
- Oil Change - Track by hours and/or calendar time
- Oil Filter Change
- Spark Plug Cleaning/Rotation
- Magneto Timing
- Brake Service
- Tap to select each maintenance type you want to track
- Tap Complete to finish the wizard
Step 5: Select recurring maintenance items to track
Pattern is Full—You're Ready
After completing the wizard:
- Your aircraft appears in the Aircraft List
- All selected inspection and maintenance types are tracked
- Status dots show compliance status (all will be purple/undetermined until you log your first maintenance entries)
- You can now log flights and maintenance for this aircraft
Next Step: After adding your aircraft, log your most recent maintenance entries to populate the compliance status. Start with your last Annual Inspection—this sets the baseline for tracking.
Troubleshooting
Aircraft not found in FAA search?
- Double-check the N-number spelling
- Try searching with or without the "N" prefix
- Recently registered aircraft may not yet be in the database
- For experimental or foreign aircraft, use manual entry instead
Wrong information auto-filled?
The FAA database may have outdated information. Simply edit any field to correct it—your changes override the FAA data.
Don't know engine/propeller times?
- Check your aircraft logbooks
- Contact your mechanic for the most recent annual inspection entries
- Enter your best estimate—you can update it later