PreflightMate sources and methodology - how aviation rules are verified
How PreflightMate verifies airport, liquid, power-bank and baggage rules: source hierarchy, data statuses and update policy.
Source hierarchy
Official airport and airline sources have the highest priority. We then use national aviation regulators and institutions such as the European Commission, EASA, ICAO and IATA. Commercial travel sites are not the primary source for safety answers.
Airport-specific vs fallback
When an airport publishes its own rule, we label it as airport-specific. When clear airport guidance is unavailable, we may show an official regulator rule as a fallback and explicitly identify its scope.
Data statuses
Verified means the rule is tied to an official source and has been reviewed. Needs review means it requires another check or uses a conservative fallback. Sources are monitored for content changes and HTTP errors.
Why dates matter
Rules change as CT scanners, battery standards and airline policies change. We update the displayed date only when data or content has actually been re-verified or materially changed.
Automation and editorial process
Some pages are generated from a structured database of verified rules so limits and sources remain consistent. Automation presents the data; it does not replace official evidence, and we do not invent rules for airports without evidence.