API docs

Website API contract

Only needed if your VA still has to build the flight-status API. The plugin itself is free; this is docs / a bridge sample.

Auth

Send the pilot smartCARS session as Bearer token. Same auth model as other community script calls.

Scope

Status updates apply to booked schedule/charter flights for the logged-in pilot (and your VA rules). Plugin 1.6+ also sends arrived + mid-flight ETA. Plugin 1.11+ shows departure/arrival gates (MSFS) with searchable parking lists.

Bearer = smartCARS session token from the pilot login.

Endpoints

GET  /flights/status/bookings
GET  /flights/status?kind=schedule|charter&id={id}
GET  /flights/status/history?kind=...&id=...&limit=12
GET  /flights/parkings?icao={ICAO|hub}&q={optional search}
GET  /flights/parkings/airports
POST /flights/status
{
  "kind": "schedule",
  "id": 123,
  "status": "on_time|updated|delayed|cancelled|arrived",
  "etd": "14:30",
  "eta": "16:05",
  "depParking": "Gate D 45",
  "arrParking": "Gate E 9"
}

Statuses: on_time (green), updated (amber), delayed (red), cancelled (red), arrived (ATA; bollotje follows departure colour). eta is useful/required for updated/delayed/arrived (new ETA or ATA).

Gates / parking (plugin 1.11+)

Bookings must return origin, destination, originIcao and destinationIcao (IATA hub or ICAO). Resolve 3-letter codes via your airport registry — do not default unknown codes to a single hub. POST /flights/status accepts depParking and arrParking (empty = auto hint).

GET /flights/status/bookings → flights[]:
{
  "origin": "AMS",
  "destination": "LHR",
  "originIcao": "EHAM",
  "destinationIcao": "EGLL",
  "depParking": "Gate D 45",
  "arrParking": "Gate E 9",
  "depParkingHint": "Gate D 45",
  "arrParkingHint": "Gate E 9"
}

Parking catalog

Recommended for gate search fields in the plugin. Catalog includes passenger gates, cargo/freight, GA/FBO/private ramps — no helipads. ~90+ network airports + regional profiles for any ICAO.

GET /flights/parkings?icao=EGLL
→ { "icao": "EGLL", "known": true, "count": 100, "parkings": ["Gate A 1", "Gate B 1", "..."] }

GET /flights/parkings/airports
→ { "stats": { "airports": 95, "explicit": 80, "network": 90 }, "airports": [...] }

GET /flights/parkings/airports returns all catalog airports + stats (explicit vs generated). Unknown ICAOs receive a regional MSFS profile (Europe = Gate A/B/C/D, US = terminals, etc.).

BlueNova reference: api/smartcars.php + includes/va-flight-status.php.

PHP bridge sample

Drop-in example you can adapt on your VA website if you do not have BlueNova’s full stack.

Download PHP bridge sample Register

Quick test

Book a flight → open VA Flight Ops in smartCARS → Refresh → change ETD/status → Save. Uses your community script URL once the API exists.

Overview Register

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