Flight is not logged in PEaware

[crum]

Hello Keith,

My yesterday's flight at about 20:00-21:00 UTC from KMYF to KRNM is not seen in PEaware. Not a big issue, but may be I did something wrong and don't know about that. Could you please check what happened?

[Pieces]

Did you file a flight plan and/or pick up flight following? PEAware only logs flights that are "in the system".

[crum]

Then all other my flights were logged by error, as they all were simple VFR pattern work without any flight plans... But I believe PEaware logs all the flights.

http://peaware.pilotedge.net/pilot.cfm?cid=3358

[tshuff]

Then all other my flights were logged by error, as they all were simple VFR pattern work without any flight plans... But I believe PEaware logs all the flights.

http://peaware.pilotedge.net/pilot.cfm?cid=3358

Since the pattern work was done at a towered field you were "in the system". If you speak with a controller, your movement should be logged on PEAware. Note that if you are airborne and have not spoken to a controller (departing untowered), you will only see activity logged after first touch *unless* you file a VFR flight plan first. An example of this can be seen on this PEAware link (http://peaware.pilotedge.net/flight.cfm?id=58224). We departed Apple Valley VFR, and picked up a flight following as we approached the John Wayne class C airspace. Had we filed KAPV > KSNA, VFR, when on the ground PEAware would have picked up the full flight.

None of this applies to IFR as you are (by design) always in the system when on instruments.

[Pieces]

I'll have to defer to someone more knowledgeable than I, then. My guess is that the controller at Ramona is entering a local flight plan for you when you call for pattern work, specifically so your flight is tracked. When you specify that you're departing the field they can't do that unless you have a flight plan in or ask for advisories so they know the destination to log.

I know that not all flights are tracked in PEAware, because many of my VFR flights are not in PEAware (I didn't ask for advisories nor filed a flight plan).

[kullery]

Perhaps this will help:

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=3049&p=19653&hilit=+peaware#p19653

[Keith Smith]

From that thread:

For your flight to be logged permanently in PEAware, two things need to happen:
1) the system needs to know where you flew from and to
2) you need to stick around at the destination long enough for PEAware to get a final position report with you at the destination airport.

For #1 to be true, you can :
1) file IFR
2) file VFR
3) pick up flight following from the ground up to your destination, in which case, the controller will create a strip for you with accurate departure and destination airports.

If you simply call for flight following "to the north" or something along those lines, then until the controller knows a specific destination, they're not going to have an accurate flight strip for you.

This is all still true. There is a #4 option, though. The controller might create a strip on your behalf for pattern work at an airport, but it's not guaranteed. #2 is your best for that case if flight tracking is critical for you.

[crum]

Oh, now I see how it all works, thanks! This flight was from Class D to Class D aerodromes with request of "downwind departue to the east" from KMYF and after landing in Ramona I've disconnected pretty much fast.

Will file VFR next time to be sure.