Methodology

How this database is built

EMPTYJET Aviation is a knowledge graph: facts are stored structurally first, and every public page is generated from the graph. No page is hand-maintained, and every fact carries its source, date and a confidence signal.

Data sources & licensing

Source registry — priority tier & redistribution
SourceKindPriorityRedistribution
FAA Releasable Aircraft Databaseregistry 1 licensed_no_redistribute deferred
ICAO DOC 8643 Aircraft Type Designatorsregistry 1 public_domain
Manufacturer published spec sheetmanufacturer 2 licensed_display_only
Great-circle computationopen_data 4 public_domain
OurAirportsopen_data 4 public_domain
Wikidataopen_data 4 cc0
Curated reference seedseed 5 unknown
Wikipediaencyclopedia 5 cc_by_sa
ADS-B Exchangepositions 6 licensed_no_redistribute deferred
EMPTYJET computed estimateopen_data 6 public_domain
OpenSky Networkpositions 6 licensed_display_only deferred

Conflict resolution

When sources disagree, the value from the higher-priority source wins (national registry & ICAO > manufacturer > licensed database > open data > encyclopedia > positions feed > AI extraction). Conflicting records are retained and flagged, never silently overwritten.

Estimates

Route nonstop capability, block times and runway suitability are computed estimates derived from published range/speed and airport runway data. They are labelled as estimates and are never booking figures.

Deferred layers

Individual tail-number records and live aircraft positions are deferred pending a source-licensing review — registry redistribution terms, ADS-B licensing, and owner privacy programs (FAA LADD / PIA). This test environment covers aircraft types, airports, routes and comparisons from public-domain and manufacturer-published data only.