Flight Phases Explained

The 12 automatic phases from preflight to on-block, and what data is captured at each transition.

Flight Phases Explained

The logger automatically detects 12 flight phases based on your simulator data. Each transition is logged as an event and reported to the server. At key transitions, the app captures performance snapshots with detailed data.

PhaseHow It’s DetectedData Captured
Preflight Parked at gate, parking brake set Departure Snapshot — gate assignment, fuel on board, aircraft weight, weather, QNH
Pushback Moving backwards or low speed with parking brake released
Taxi Out Moving on ground above 2 knots, engines running
Takeoff Lift-off detected — was on ground, now airborne Takeoff Snapshot — takeoff speed, pitch, flap setting, wind speed & direction, headwind/crosswind components, runway (if available)
Climb Positive vertical speed above 300 fpm, above 1,500 ft AGL
Cruise Level flight (VS between −300 and +300 fpm) above 10,000 ft Cruise Statistics — continuously tracked: average altitude, average IAS, average Mach, average fuel flow, average OAT, total cruise time
Descent Negative vertical speed below −300 fpm
Approach Below 10,000 ft, descending, gear or flaps extended
Final Below 3,000 ft AGL, approaching destination Approach Snapshot — ILS localizer & glideslope deviation (dots), stabilised approach check at 1,000 ft AGL (gear down, flaps set, VS within limits)
Landing Touchdown detected — was airborne, now on ground Touchdown Snapshot — vertical speed (fpm), ground speed, pitch, headwind/crosswind components, flap setting, spoiler deployment, bounce detection
Taxi In Moving on ground after landing
On Block Stopped at gate, parking brake set, engines shutting down Arrival Snapshot — fuel remaining, fuel used, block time, gate (if available)

Enhanced Event Detection

In addition to phase transitions, the logger detects and logs over 25 discrete event types during your flight:

Standard EventsAdvanced Events
  • Engine start & shutdown
  • Parking brake on/off
  • Landing/strobe/nav/taxi/beacon light changes
  • Gear up & down
  • Flap setting changes
  • Altitude crossings (10,000 ft, transition level)
  • Takeoff & landing
  • Block on & off
  • Spoiler deploy / retract
  • Logo & wing light changes
  • Seatbelt sign on / off
  • APU start / shutdown
  • Waypoint passing (with name & distance)
  • Stabilised approach check at 1,000 ft
  • Unstabilised approach warning
  • Landing bounce detection
  • Reverse thrust deploy / stow
  • Engine overtemperature (EGT > 900°C)
  • Icing encounter / clear

All events include rich data payloads — for example, a takeoff event records the speed, pitch, and flap setting; a landing event includes VS, headwind, and crosswind components.

Phase detection is fully automatic. Very short flights (under 5 minutes) may skip some phases, and teleporting in the sim will confuse the detector.