What does the aircraft sub-status "Completion" mean, and can I access historical Completion data?

This article explains how ch-aviation defines the Completion sub-status, how it differs from similar statuses, and what options are available for accessing historical data.

What is the "Completion" sub-status?

An aircraft is tagged with the Completion sub-status when it is undergoing interior or seats installation prior to its initial delivery. This typically applies in the following scenarios:

• A newly built airframe is having its cabin fitted out before being handed over to an airline or operator.
• A military aircraft is being updated or outfitted to meet specific military or special mission requirements.

A key example: if a newly built business jet frame is being prepared to become a military or special mission aircraft, it will be assigned a Completion status — not a Conversion status — because the aircraft has not yet been delivered or operated in any prior configuration.

How is "Completion" different from "Conversion"?

The distinction comes down to whether the aircraft has already entered commercial or operational service:

• Completion — applies to new, undelivered airframes undergoing interior fit-out or military configuration before their first delivery.
• Conversion — applies to aircraft that have already been delivered and operated as a standard variant, and are subsequently being converted into a different type (e.g., passenger to freighter).

In short: Completion happens before first delivery; Conversion happens after the aircraft has already entered service.

How does this differ from MRO events?

The Completion sub-status is a fleet status indicator, not an MRO event. MRO (Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul) events on the commercial side refer to scheduled or unscheduled maintenance activities on in-service aircraft. Completion, by contrast, describes a pre-delivery phase for new production aircraft — it reflects where an aircraft sits in the delivery pipeline, not a maintenance activity.

Can I access historical Completion sub-status data?

The ch-aviation online database displays the current sub-status for each aircraft, updated on a weekly basis. Historical sub-status data — such as a 10-year Completion history per aircraft — is not available directly through the platform.

However, historical data of this nature may be available as a custom report. If you require historical Completion sub-status data for a specific fleet or time period, please get in touch with our team, who can advise on availability and scope.

If this article does not answer your question or resolve your issue, you can always submit a ticket and our Customer Support team will get back to you as soon as possible.