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Normalized Schema Reference

Documentation for normalized/lookup tables

VATSIM_ADL Normalized Schema Reference

SWIM API v2.0

Generated: 2026-01-15 (Updated 2026-01-27)

Database: Azure SQL (VATSIM_ADL)

Schema: Normalized ADL Tables


> FIXM Migration (2026-01-27): The adl_flight_times table will receive new FIXM-aligned

> columns alongside legacy OOOI columns. During the 30-day transition, both sets are populated.

>

> New FIXM Time Columns: actual_off_block_time, actual_time_of_departure,

> actual_landing_time, actual_in_block_time, estimated_time_of_arrival,

> estimated_off_block_time, estimated_runway_arrival_time, controlled_time_of_departure,

> controlled_time_of_arrival

>

> See VATSWIM_FIXM_Field_Mapping.md for complete mapping.


Normalized Table Architecture

All tables linked by flight_uid (BIGINT) as primary/foreign key.

TablePurposeKey Columns
adl_flight_coreMaster flight registryflight_uid (PK), callsign, cid, phase, is_active
adl_flight_positionCurrent position & velocitylat, lon, altitude_ft, groundspeed_kts
adl_flight_planRoute, O/D, proceduresfp_dept_icao, fp_dest_icao, fp_route
adl_flight_timesAll time fields (80 cols)eta_utc, out/off/on/in_utc
adl_flight_tmiTMI assignmentsctl_type, slot_time_utc, gs_held
adl_flight_aircraftAircraft & carrier infoaircraft_icao, weight_class, airline_name

adl_flight_core (49 columns)

ColumnTypeDescription
flight_uidbigintPrimary Key
flight_keynvarchar(64)Unique flight identifier
cidintVATSIM CID
callsignnvarchar(16)Flight callsign
flight_idnvarchar(32)VATSIM flight ID
phasenvarchar(16)Flight phase
last_sourcenvarchar(16)Last data source
is_activebitActive flight flag
first_seen_utcdatetime2First position timestamp
last_seen_utcdatetime2Last position timestamp
logon_time_utcdatetime2VATSIM logon time
adl_datedateADL date
adl_timetimeADL time
snapshot_utcdatetime2Snapshot time
flight_phasenvarchar(16)Detailed phase
current_artccvarchar(10)Current ARTCC
current_traconvarchar(20)Current TRACON
current_zonenvarchar(16)Airport zone
current_zone_airportnvarchar(4)Zone airport
current_sector_lowvarchar(255)Low sector(s)
current_sector_highvarchar(255)High sector(s)
weather_impactnvarchar(32)Weather impact
weather_alert_idsnvarchar(256)Weather alert IDs

adl_flight_position (24 columns)

ColumnTypeDescription
flight_uidbigintFK to core
latdecimalLatitude
londecimalLongitude
altitude_ftintCurrent altitude
altitude_assignedintAssigned altitude
altitude_clearedintCleared altitude
groundspeed_ktsintGround speed
true_airspeed_ktsintTrue airspeed
machdecimalMach number
vertical_rate_fpmintVertical rate
heading_degsmallintHeading
track_degsmallintTrack
qnh_in_hgdecimalAltimeter (inHg)
qnh_mbintAltimeter (mb)
dist_to_dest_nmdecimalGCD distance remaining
dist_flown_nmdecimalDistance flown
pct_completedecimalPercent complete
route_dist_to_dest_nmdecimalRoute distance remaining
route_pct_completedecimalRoute percent complete
next_waypoint_namenvarchar(64)Next waypoint
dist_to_next_waypoint_nmdecimalDistance to next waypoint

adl_flight_plan (52 columns)

ColumnTypeDescription
flight_uidbigintFK to core
fp_rulenchar(1)Flight rules (I/V/Y/Z)
fp_dept_icaochar(4)Departure airport
fp_dest_icaochar(4)Destination airport
fp_alt_icaochar(4)Alternate airport
fp_dept_traconnvarchar(64)Departure TRACON
fp_dept_artccnvarchar(8)Departure ARTCC
fp_dest_traconnvarchar(64)Destination TRACON
fp_dest_artccnvarchar(8)Destination ARTCC
dfixnvarchar(8)Departure fix
dp_namenvarchar(16)SID name
dtrsnnvarchar(16)SID transition
afixnvarchar(8)Arrival fix
star_namenvarchar(16)STAR name
strsnnvarchar(16)STAR transition
approachnvarchar(16)Approach procedure
dep_runwaynvarchar(4)Departure runway
arr_runwaynvarchar(4)Arrival runway
fp_routenvarchar(MAX)Filed route
fp_route_expandednvarchar(MAX)Expanded route
fp_dept_time_zchar(4)Filed departure time
fp_altitude_ftintCruise altitude
fp_tas_ktsintFiled TAS
fp_enroute_minutesintFiled ETE
fp_fuel_minutesintFuel endurance
fp_remarksnvarchar(MAX)Remarks
gcd_nmdecimalGreat circle distance
route_total_nmdecimalRoute total distance
aircraft_typenvarchar(8)Aircraft type
aircraft_equipnvarchar(32)Equipment codes
waypoint_countintParsed waypoint count
parse_statusnvarchar(16)Route parse status
is_simbriefbitSimBrief flag
simbrief_idnvarchar(32)SimBrief OFP ID

adl_flight_times (80 columns)

ColumnTypeDescription
flight_uidbigintFK to core
std_utcdatetime2Scheduled departure
sta_utcdatetime2Scheduled arrival
etd_utcdatetime2Estimated departure
etd_runway_utcdatetime2ETD runway
etd_sourcenvarchar(16)ETD source
eta_utcdatetime2Estimated arrival
eta_runway_utcdatetime2ETA runway
eta_sourcenvarchar(16)ETA source
eta_methodnvarchar(16)ETA method
atd_utcdatetime2Actual departure
atd_runway_utcdatetime2ATD runway
ata_utcdatetime2Actual arrival
ata_runway_utcdatetime2ATA runway
ctd_utcdatetime2Controlled departure
cta_utcdatetime2Controlled arrival
edct_utcdatetime2EDCT
octd_utcdatetime2Original CTD
octa_utcdatetime2Original CTA
out_utcdatetime2OOOI - OUT
off_utcdatetime2OOOI - OFF
on_utcdatetime2OOOI - ON
in_utcdatetime2OOOI - IN
ete_minutesintEstimated time enroute
ate_minutesintActual time enroute
delay_minutesintDelay (minutes)
eta_confidencedecimalETA confidence score
eta_wind_component_ktsintWind component

adl_flight_tmi (43 columns)

ColumnTypeDescription
flight_uidbigintFK to core
ctl_typenvarchar(8)Control type (GDP, AFP, GS)
ctl_elementnvarchar(8)Controlled element
ctl_prgmnvarchar(32)Control program name
ctl_exemptbitExempt flag
ctl_exempt_reasonnvarchar(32)Exemption reason
delay_statusnvarchar(16)Delay status
delay_minutesintDelay (minutes)
delay_sourcenvarchar(16)Delay source
ctd_utcdatetime2Controlled departure
cta_utcdatetime2Controlled arrival
edct_utcdatetime2EDCT
slot_time_utcdatetime2Slot time
slot_statusnvarchar(16)Slot status
aslotnvarchar(16)ASLOT identifier
is_exemptbitExempt flag
exempt_reasonnvarchar(64)Exemption reason
program_idintTMI program ID
slot_idbigintSlot ID
gs_heldbitGround stop held
gs_release_utcdatetime2GS release time
is_popupbitPopup flag
popup_detected_utcdatetime2Popup detection time
ecr_pendingbitECR pending flag
reroute_statusnvarchar(16)Reroute status
reroute_idnvarchar(32)Reroute ID
absolute_delay_minintAbsolute delay
schedule_variation_minintSchedule variation

adl_flight_aircraft (12 columns)

ColumnTypeDescription
flight_uidbigintFK to core
aircraft_icaonvarchar(8)ICAO type code
aircraft_faanvarchar(8)FAA type code
weight_classnchar(1)Weight class (L/M/H/J)
wake_categorynvarchar(8)Wake category
engine_typenvarchar(8)Engine type
engine_counttinyintNumber of engines
cruise_tas_ktsintCruise TAS
ceiling_ftintService ceiling
airline_icaonvarchar(4)Airline ICAO
airline_namenvarchar(64)Airline name

SWIM API Column Usage Summary

Minimal Query (positions.php)

SELECT 
    c.flight_uid, c.flight_key, c.callsign, c.phase, c.current_artcc,
    pos.lat, pos.lon, pos.altitude_ft, pos.heading_deg, pos.groundspeed_kts,
    pos.dist_to_dest_nm, pos.pct_complete,
    fp.fp_dept_icao, fp.fp_dest_icao, fp.fp_dest_artcc, fp.aircraft_type,
    t.eta_runway_utc, t.ete_minutes,
    tmi.gs_held, tmi.ctl_type, tmi.program_id,
    ac.weight_class, ac.wake_category
FROM dbo.adl_flight_core c
INNER JOIN dbo.adl_flight_position pos ON pos.flight_uid = c.flight_uid
LEFT JOIN dbo.adl_flight_plan fp ON fp.flight_uid = c.flight_uid
LEFT JOIN dbo.adl_flight_times t ON t.flight_uid = c.flight_uid
LEFT JOIN dbo.adl_flight_tmi tmi ON tmi.flight_uid = c.flight_uid
LEFT JOIN dbo.adl_flight_aircraft ac ON ac.flight_uid = c.flight_uid
WHERE c.is_active = 1

Full Query (flight.php)

All columns from all 6 tables with LEFT JOINs.


Key Differences from Legacy adl_flights

Legacy ColumnNormalized LocationNotes
gdp_program_idtmi.program_idRenamed
gdp_slot_time_utctmi.slot_time_utcRenamed
gdp_slot_indextmi.slot_idDifferent type
gs_flagtmi.gs_heldRenamed
ac_catac.wake_categoryRenamed
major_carrierac.airline_icaoRenamed
eta_runway_utct.eta_runway_utcSame name, different table
(N/A)pos.dist_to_dest_nmNEW - calculated distance
(N/A)pos.pct_completeNEW - progress percentage
(N/A)pos.next_waypoint_nameNEW - waypoint tracking

Last Verified: 2026-01-15 against live VATSIM_ADL Azure SQL database