Post-Flight Actuals

This is the primary workflow for recording actual flight operations data.

When to use this

Use this workflow after flights have landed and operational data is available from tech logs, fuel receipts, and crew reports. Typically performed within 24 hours of flight completion to ensure timely records and crew duty time accuracy.

Steps

1. Select flights: Use the search and filter tools to locate the flights, then check the box next to each flight you want to capture data for. You can select multiple flights to capture data efficiently in bulk.
2. Open capture window: Click the "Capture [N] Flights" button in the top-right. A large capture window opens showing all selected flights in a table format.
3. Review flight details: The window displays fixed information (flight number, route, scheduled departure time) and editable fields. Review that aircraft and crew assignments are correct.
4. Update aircraft or crew if needed:
   • Change the aircraft using the dropdown (shows only appropriate aircraft for that aircraft type)
   • Modify crew assignments by clicking the crew button and adjusting positions
5. Copy Flight Following data (optional): If the flight was tracked in Flight Following, click the "Copy FF" button for individual flights or "Copy all FF data" at the top to automatically populate times, passenger counts, and fuel data from flight following records.
6. Enter flight times:
   • Blocks off: When the aircraft moved from the parking position (date and time in UTC)
   • ATD (Actual Time of Departure / Take-off time): Wheels-up time
   • ATA (Actual Time of Arrival / Landing time): Wheels-down time
   • Blocks on: When the aircraft stopped at the parking position
   • System automatically calculates Block hours and Flight hours from these times
7. Enter fuel data:
   • Fuel uplift (weight): Amount of fuel added, in the displayed unit (kg or lbs)
   • Fuel uplift (volume): Volume of fuel added (litres or gallons) if applicable
   • Start fuel: Fuel quantity at engine start
   • Shut down fuel: Fuel quantity at engine shutdown
   • Fuel receipt: Reference number from fuel provider
8. Record passenger and cargo data:
   • Pax (A+C): Number of adult and child passengers
   • Pax (infants): Number of infant passengers
   • Cargo: Weight of cargo carried, in the displayed unit
9. Enter operational metrics:
   • Distance: Actual distance flown (if different from planned)
   • Landings: Number of landings during the flight
   • Pilot Flying: Select which pilot was PF from the dropdown of assigned pilots
   • Tech Log #: Flight folio or tech log page number
10. Capture Hobbs/Tach meter readings (if applicable): Aircraft with Hobbs or Tach meters show start and end fields for:
    • Engine, Master, Air, Weight-on-Wheels, Collective, Avionics, or Miscellaneous Hobbs meters
    • Tach Time readings
    • Flight Time Indicator (FTI) in decimal hours or HH:MM format
11. Enter engine performance data (if applicable): For aircraft with configured engine slots, the table shows additional columns for each engine position:
    • Engine hrs.: Hours operated during this flight
    • Engine cycles: Number of engine cycles (start/stop or power cycles)
    • N1 (Ng): Gas generator speed parameter
    • N2 (Nf): Power turbine speed parameter
    • Oil uplift: Amount of oil added to each engine
12. Set flight rules (if required): For regulations allowing both VFR and IFR, select which rules the flight was conducted under.
13. Assign Weight & Balance Template (if enabled): Select the appropriate W&B template from the dropdown if your organisation uses W&B templates.
14. Upload flight documents: Scroll down to the Flight documents section below the metrics table.
    • Click "Add document" to add a new document row
    • Select the document type from the dropdown (Tech Log, Fuel Receipt, Manifest, etc.)
    • Click the file upload field to browse and select the file (PDF, image, video, audio, or document)
    • Check the boxes under each flight number to assign the document to those flights (one document can be assigned to multiple flights)
    • Repeat to add more documents as needed
    • Click the trash icon to remove a document if needed
15. Review for validation warnings: The system highlights fields with validation issues in red and displays validation messages. Common validations include:
    • Blocks off must be before ATD
    • ATD must be before ATA
    • ATA must be before Blocks on
    • All times should be reasonably close to scheduled times
    • Fuel and passenger counts should be within expected ranges
    • Documents must have a type selected
    • Documents must be assigned to at least one flight
16. Submit: Click the "Submit" button to save all captured data. The system validates all entries and saves the records.

Result

The flight records are updated with all actual operational data. Crew duty times are recalculated based on actual block times. Aircraft maintenance counters are updated with engine hours and cycles. Flight documents are stored and linked to the flights. The capture window closes and the main table refreshes showing the updated flight data.

Important notes

• Not all fields are required—capture what data you have available. Missing optional fields can be added later.
• The columns visible in the capture window are determined by aircraft type configuration and current flight sector data availability.
• For flights already tracked in Flight Following, the "Copy FF" feature significantly reduces manual entry by copying all available data.
• When capturing data for multiple flights at once, you can scroll the table horizontally to see all columns while the flight identification columns remain visible.
• Flight times copy suggestions appear under time fields when calculated from previous flight operations or standard taxi times.

Update flight operational status directly from the Post-Flight Actuals table.

When to use this

Use these functions to mark flights as cancelled, record delays with appropriate codes, or document diversions to alternate airports. This is typically done during or shortly after flight operations when status changes occur.

Steps

1. Locate the flight: Find the flight row in the main table using search and filters.
2. For flight status (Cancelled):
   • Click the Flight Status badge or dropdown
   • Select "Cancelled" or change back to "Scheduled"
   • The status updates immediately in the table
3. For delays:
   • Click the delay time badge in the Delays column (shows 00:00 if no delays)
   • A delay management window opens
   • Add new delays by clicking "Add delay"
   • Select the delay code from the dropdown (e.g., "Weather", "Technical", "Passenger", "Airport")
   • Enter the delay duration in minutes or hours
   • Add remarks if needed
   • Save changes—the delay badge updates to show total delay time with colour coding
4. For diversions:
   • Click the Divert button (arrows icon) in the Divert column
   • A diversions window opens showing any existing diversions
   • Click "Add diversion" to record a new alternate airport
   • Select the diversion airport from the dropdown
   • Enter diversion details (time, reason, etc.)
   • Save—the diversion is now recorded with the flight

Result

Flight status changes, delay codes, and diversion information are saved with the flight record. These details appear in operational reports, crew rosters (as delays affect duty times), and management dashboards. The flight's Issues indicator will show warnings if delays or diversions require additional data capture or approvals.

When flight approval is enabled, designated users review and approve completed flight records.

When to use this

Use the approval workflow after post-flight data has been captured and you need to verify and authorise the records before they are finalised for billing, regulatory reporting, or crew logbooks.

Steps for single flight approval

1. Locate the flight: Find the flight in the table.
2. Review the flight data: Check the Issues indicator for any validation warnings. Review captured times, fuel, passenger data, and uploaded documents.
3. Click the approval badge: The badge shows the current status (Pending, Approved, Rejected).
4. For approval: Click "Approve"—the status changes to Approved immediately.
5. For rejection:
   • Click "Reject"
   • A rejection window opens
   • Enter a clear reason for rejection so the data entry team knows what needs correction
   • Submit—the status changes to Rejected and the reason is recorded

Steps for bulk approval

1. Apply filters: Use search and filters to show only the flights you want to approve (e.g., flights from yesterday, or flights for a specific aircraft).
2. Open bulk approval menu: In the Flight Approval column header, click the "Update all" dropdown.
3. Select action: Choose:
   • "Approve all" to approve all filtered flights
   • "Reject all" to reject all filtered flights (you will be prompted for a reason)
   • "Change all to pending" to reset the approval status
4. Confirm: A confirmation window shows the count of flights affected. Review and confirm.
5. Undo if needed: If you make a mistake, click the "Undo" button that appears next to the bulk action controls to reverse the most recent bulk approval operation.

Result

Approved flights are locked from further editing (unless approval is revoked) and are considered final for reporting purposes. Rejected flights remain editable so operations staff can make corrections. The approval status is visible in reports and on crew rosters.

Important notes

• Only users assigned as approvers in Scheduling Settings can approve or reject flights.
• Bulk approval is disabled when more than 250 flights are filtered—refine your filters to approve in smaller batches.
• The "Undo" feature only reverses the most recent bulk operation and is available for a short time after the operation.

Generate reports of post-flight data for billing, management review, or regulatory compliance.

When to use this

Export reports when you need to share post-flight data with accounting (for billing), with management (for operational review), or for regulatory authorities (for compliance records). Typically done weekly or monthly depending on your organisation's processes.

Steps

1. Apply filters: Use search, date range, and filters to show only the flights you want to include in the report.
2. Customise columns (optional): Use the filter dropdown to select which data columns should appear in the export.
3. Click Export button: The export/insights button is located in the header of the Post-Flight Actuals table.
4. Select format: Choose Excel, PDF, or other available formats depending on your needs.
5. Configure export options: Depending on the report type, you may be able to select specific metrics or date ranges.
6. Generate and download: The system generates the report and prompts you to download the file.

Result

You receive a formatted report containing all post-flight data for the filtered flights. Excel exports allow for further data manipulation and analysis. PDF reports are suitable for printing and archival.

The Post-Flight Actuals capture window displays a comprehensive set of flight data fields. Which fields appear depends on aircraft type configuration and what data is available for the selected flights.

For aircraft with multiple engines or specific engine tracking requirements, additional engine performance columns appear in the capture window. Each engine position (Left, Right, Engine 1, Engine 2, etc.) has its own set of fields.

Engine data fields only appear for the engines configured on the selected aircraft. For example, a single-engine aircraft will show one set of engine columns, while a twin-engine aircraft will show two sets (one for each engine position).

The Flight documents section appears below the flight metrics table in the capture window. This area manages all supporting documents for the selected flights.

Document management features

• Document types: Each document must be assigned a type from your organisation's configured list. Common types include Tech Log, Fuel Receipt, Load Sheet, Manifest, Weather Report, NOTAM Package, and Flight Plan.
• File upload: Click the file input field to browse and select a file. Supported formats include PDF, images (JPEG, PNG), videos (MP4, WEBM, OGG, AVI, MOV, WMV, FLV, MKV), audio files (MP3, M4A, WAV, OGG, FLAC, AAC), and common document formats. Files are stored securely in cloud storage.
• Flight assignment: Use the checkboxes under each flight number to assign the document to specific flights. One document can be assigned to multiple flights (useful for multi-sector dispatch packages or shared fuel receipts).
• Document viewing: Click the document filename to open it in a preview window. The system displays PDF files inline, plays videos and audio files with HTML5 media controls, or provides a download link for other formats.
• Multiple documents: Click "Add another document" or "Add document" to add as many documents as needed. There's no practical limit on the number of documents per flight.
• Remove documents: Click the trash icon to remove a document from the list before submitting.

Document permissions

Document upload and editing permissions may differ from flight metrics permissions. Crew members might have permission to upload documents but not edit flight times. When viewing documents uploaded by others, crew may see them in read-only mode with a warning that they cannot remove documents not uploaded by crew.

The Post-Flight Actuals table columns are customisable through the filter dropdown. Click the "Columns" option in the filter menu to select which columns appear in the table.

Always visible columns

• Select checkbox
• Flight no.
• Date
• Route

Optional columns (selectable)

• Flight Status (shows Scheduled, Cancelled, Delayed, Diverted)
• Dispatch (link to dispatch package)
• Divert (button to manage diversions)
• Delays (displays total delay time badge)
• Aircraft & Crew
• Flight Type
• Client
• Issues (validation status indicator)
• Flight Approval (approval status and controls—only visible when flight approval is enabled)
• WB Template (Weight & Balance template—only visible when W&B templates are enabled and in use)
• Documents (shows document icons—when selected, splits into sub-columns for each configured document type)

Column behaviour

Some columns are context-sensitive:

• Flight Status, Divert, and Delays columns are hidden for users without edit permissions
• Flight Approval column only appears when the flight approval feature is enabled in Scheduling Settings
• WB Template column only appears when W&B templates are enabled and at least one flight in the table has an assigned template
• Documents column expands to show separate columns for each document type configured to show in flight records

Your column selections are saved with your user filter preferences and apply each time you visit the page.

The Post-Flight Actuals page includes validation rules to ensure data quality and logical consistency.

Time sequence validation

• Blocks off must occur on or before ATD
• ATD must occur before ATA
• ATA must occur on or before Blocks on
• All times should be reasonably close to the scheduled departure time (warnings for extreme variances)
• Flight duration should be realistic for the route distance

Data range validation

• Passenger counts must be within aircraft seating capacity
• Fuel amounts must be within aircraft fuel tank capacity
• Weights (cargo, fuel) should align with aircraft limitations
• Engine parameters should be within normal operating ranges
• Hobbs and Tach meter readings must be sequential (end reading greater than or equal to start reading)

Required data validation

• Aircraft must be assigned
• Flight type must be selected
• Crew positions specified by the aircraft's crew configuration must be filled
• All documents must have a document type
• All documents must be assigned to at least one flight

Validation display

Validation messages appear in multiple places:

• Issues column: A warning triangle icon with flashing animation appears when a flight has validation warnings. Hover over the icon to see the specific issues.
• Field level: Within the capture window, fields with validation errors display a red border and error message below the field.
• Form submission: If you attempt to submit the form with validation errors, an alert message appears at the bottom listing the issues that need correction.

Post-Flight Actuals uses role-based permissions to control who can view and edit flight data.

Users without any Post-Flight Actuals permissions will see a "Not Authorised" warning when accessing the page.

Flight approval is an optional feature that adds a formal review and authorisation step to the post-flight process.

Enabling flight approval

Flight approval is enabled in Scheduling Settings by the system administrator. When enabled:

• A "Flight Approval" column appears in the Post-Flight Actuals table
• Each flight displays an approval status badge: Pending, Approved, or Rejected
• Bulk approval controls appear in the Flight Approval column header
• An "Undo" button becomes available for reversing bulk operations

Who can approve flights

Only users assigned as approvers in Scheduling Settings can approve or reject flights. Typically this is the Accountable Manager, Operations Manager, or designated Flight Operations supervisor. Assignment is configured per organisation, not per user role.

Approval workflow

1. Operations staff capture post-flight data—flights remain in Pending status
2. Approving user reviews the flights in Post-Flight Actuals
3. Approver checks the Issues indicator and reviews data quality
4. Approver either approves the flight (marking it final) or rejects it with a reason
5. If rejected, operations staff make corrections and the flight returns to Pending status for re-approval
6. Once approved, the flight record is typically locked from further edits (organisational policy)

Bulk approval

Bulk approval operations are limited to 250 flights at a time to ensure system performance. If your filters return more than 250 flights, refine your date range or add additional filters to reduce the count before using bulk approval.

Weight and Balance (W&B) templates is an optional feature that links each flight to a specific W&B calculation template or document.

When enabled

The W&B Templates column appears in the Post-Flight Actuals table and capture window when:

• The Enable Weight and Balance Templates setting is turned on in Flight Operations Settings
• At least one aircraft type has W&B templates configured
• At least one flight in the current view has an aircraft with available templates

Using W&B templates

In the capture window, select the appropriate W&B template from the dropdown for each flight. The dropdown is filtered to show only templates configured for that flight's aircraft type. Once assigned, you can click the PDF icon in the table to view the template document.

W&B templates are typically aircraft configuration-specific (e.g., "Citation CJ3 - Standard W&B", "Citation CJ3 - Long Range W&B") and define the loading calculations used for that flight.

Post-Flight Actuals integrates with the Flight Following page to minimise duplicate data entry.

What data can be copied

When a flight has been tracked in Flight Following, the following data can be copied automatically:

• Blocks off time (UTC)
• ATD / Take-off time (UTC)
• ATA / Landing time (UTC)
• Blocks on time (UTC)
• Adult and child passenger count
• Infant passenger count
• Start fuel weight
• Fuel uplift weight
• Cargo weight

Copy methods

There are two ways to copy Flight Following data:

• Single flight copy: Click the "Copy FF" button in that flight's row in the capture window
• Bulk copy: Click the "Copy all FF data" button at the top of the capture window to copy data for all flights that have Flight Following records

If a flight does not have Flight Following data, the Copy FF button is disabled with a tooltip explaining no data is available.

When to use copy vs manual entry

• Copy Flight Following data when your operation uses real-time flight tracking and captures times/data during the flight. This is faster and reduces transcription errors.
• Manual entry is required when Flight Following was not used (e.g., for flights operated by other operators, historic data migration, or when Flight Following is not part of your workflow).

Why can't I see the Capture Flight Details button?

The Capture button only appears when you have checked at least one flight using the Select checkboxes in the table. Check one or more flights, and the button will appear showing "Capture [N] Flights" where N is the number of selected flights.

Why is the Save button disabled or greyed out in the capture window?

You likely have validation errors that must be corrected before submitting. Scroll through the capture window and look for fields with red borders and error messages. Common issues include:

• Times entered in the wrong sequence (e.g., Blocks off after ATD)
• Documents added without selecting a document type
• Documents not assigned to any flights
• Required crew positions not filled
• Missing required fields like Flight Type or Aircraft

Why can't I approve or reject flights?

Only users assigned as approvers in Scheduling Settings can use the flight approval features. If you need approval access, contact your system administrator or Accountable Manager to request assignment.

The bulk approval "Update all" button is disabled—why?

Bulk approval is disabled when more than 250 flights match your current filters. Refine your date range or add additional filters (aircraft, client, etc.) to reduce the number of flights displayed, then try again.

Why don't I see engine data columns in the capture window?

Engine performance columns only appear when:

• The aircraft type has engine slots configured
• At least one selected flight has an aircraft with engine tracking enabled
• The engine field configuration for that aircraft type includes the specific engine metric

Not all aircraft types track detailed engine metrics. Check the aircraft type configuration in Aircraft Management if you expect to see engine fields but they're not appearing.

Why can't I edit Flight Status, Delays, or Diversions?

These columns are only visible and editable for users with Flight Operations: Post-Flight Actuals - Edit permissions. If you have view-only access, these columns will either not appear or will show read-only badges without edit controls.

Can I remove a document after submitting the form?

Once the capture form is submitted, documents become part of the flight record. To remove or replace a document after submission, you'll need to reopen the flight for editing (select it again and open the capture window). Document removal permissions may be restricted based on who uploaded the document and your permission level.

Why does the Issues indicator show a warning even after I've entered all the data?

The Issues indicator validates data after it's saved. Common reasons for warnings even with complete data:

• Times are significantly different from scheduled times (review for accuracy)
• Fuel consumption is outside normal range for that aircraft and route
• Passenger count exceeds usual capacity (double-check the count)
• Engine parameters are outside normal ranges
• Weight and balance limits may be exceeded based on entered weights

Review the specific warning message by hovering over the warning icon. If the data is correct despite the warning, you can proceed—some warnings are informational and don't block approval or reporting.

The Copy FF button is disabled—why?

The Copy FF button only enables when Flight Following data exists for that specific flight. If the flight was not tracked in Flight Following, or if Flight Following data has not been captured yet, the button will be disabled. You'll need to enter the data manually in that case.

Do I have to fill in every field in the capture window?

No. Many fields are optional. Capture the data you have available. Required fields (like Aircraft, Flight Type, and any crew positions specified in the aircraft's crew configuration) are marked and must be completed. Optional fields can be left blank and filled in later if needed.

Can I edit a flight's post-flight data after it's been approved?

This depends on your organisation's policy. Typically, approved flights are locked from further editing to maintain data integrity for billing and regulatory purposes. If you need to correct an approved flight, contact your approving manager to have the approval status reset, make your corrections, and request re-approval.

How long should I keep flight documents in the system?

Flight documents should be retained according to your organisation's document retention policy and regulatory requirements. Most aviation authorities require retention of flight records for a minimum period (often 2-5 years). Musket stores documents securely and does not automatically delete them, allowing you to maintain long-term records.

Can I assign one document to multiple flights?

Yes. This is useful for dispatch packages, NOTAMs, or other documents that cover multiple sectors. In the Flight documents section, check the boxes under multiple flight numbers to assign the same document to all of them. This avoids uploading duplicate files.

What happens if I don't have internet when trying to capture post-flight data?

Musket is a web-based system and requires an internet connection to access the Post-Flight Actuals page and save data. If internet is unavailable, record your data on paper or in a local spreadsheet, then enter it into Musket when connectivity is restored. The system does not currently support offline data capture.

Why do some flights show suggested times in the capture window?

Musket can generate suggested times based on the flight's scheduled times and standard taxi times (typically 5 minutes for fixed-wing aircraft, 0 for helicopters). These suggestions appear as small copyable values below time fields. They're helpful as a starting point, but always replace them with actual times from the tech log or Flight Following for accuracy.

Can I export only approved flights?

Yes, when flight approval is enabled, you can filter the table by approval status before exporting. Use the Filter dropdown and select "Flight Approval Status" to show only Approved (or Pending, or Rejected) flights. Then use the Export button to generate a report of just those flights.

How do I know which columns to select for the table?

Choose columns based on your workflow needs. For daily operations review, include Flight Status, Delays, Issues, and Flight Approval. For detailed data review, include Aircraft & Crew, Client, and Documents. For quick status checks, keep it minimal with just Flight no., Date, Route, and Issues. Your column selections are saved, so you only need to configure them once.