diff --git a/backend/app/crud/crud_local_flight.py b/backend/app/crud/crud_local_flight.py
index d436167..31924b2 100644
--- a/backend/app/crud/crud_local_flight.py
+++ b/backend/app/crud/crud_local_flight.py
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ class CRUDLocalFlight:
         current_time = timestamp if timestamp is not None else datetime.utcnow()
         if status == LocalFlightStatus.GROUND:
             db_obj.contact_dt = current_time
-        elif status == LocalFlightStatus.DEPARTED:
+        elif status == LocalFlightStatus.DEPARTED and not db_obj.departed_dt:
             db_obj.departed_dt = current_time
         elif status == LocalFlightStatus.LANDED and not db_obj.landed_dt:
             db_obj.landed_dt = current_time
@@ -200,6 +200,8 @@ class CRUDLocalFlight:
         # Takeoff: happens once when transitioning away from GROUND
         if old_status == LocalFlightStatus.GROUND and status in (LocalFlightStatus.DEPARTED, LocalFlightStatus.LOCAL, LocalFlightStatus.CIRCUIT) and not db_obj.takeoff_dt:
             db_obj.takeoff_dt = current_time
+            if not db_obj.departed_dt:
+                db_obj.departed_dt = current_time
         
         db.add(db_obj)
         db.commit()
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_flight_strip_apis.py b/backend/tests/test_flight_strip_apis.py
index 088ce8f..5c595f3 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_flight_strip_apis.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_flight_strip_apis.py
@@ -194,6 +194,7 @@ def test_local_flight_lifecycle_special_lists_and_not_found_paths(auth_client, d
 
     assert departed_response.status_code == 200
     assert departed_response.json()["takeoff_dt"] == "2026-06-20T10:05:00"
+    assert departed_response.json()["departed_dt"] == "2026-06-20T10:05:00"
     assert landed_response.status_code == 200
     assert landed_response.json()["landed_dt"] == "2026-06-20T10:45:00"
 
@@ -222,6 +223,40 @@ def test_local_flight_lifecycle_special_lists_and_not_found_paths(auth_client, d
     assert auth_client.delete("/api/v1/local-flights/404").status_code == 404
 
 
+def test_local_flight_takeoff_to_local_sets_departed_dt(auth_client):
+    create_response = auth_client.post(
+        "/api/v1/local-flights/",
+        json={
+            "registration": "g-air",
+            "type": "PA28",
+            "pob": 2,
+            "flight_type": "LOCAL",
+            "duration": 30,
+            "etd": "2026-06-20T09:00:00",
+        },
+    )
+    assert create_response.status_code == 200
+
+    takeoff_response = auth_client.patch(
+        f"/api/v1/local-flights/{create_response.json()['id']}/status",
+        json={"status": "LOCAL", "timestamp": "2026-06-20T09:05:00"},
+    )
+
+    assert takeoff_response.status_code == 200
+    assert takeoff_response.json()["status"] == "LOCAL"
+    assert takeoff_response.json()["takeoff_dt"] == "2026-06-20T09:05:00"
+    assert takeoff_response.json()["departed_dt"] == "2026-06-20T09:05:00"
+
+    landing_response = auth_client.patch(
+        f"/api/v1/local-flights/{create_response.json()['id']}/status",
+        json={"status": "LANDED", "timestamp": "2026-06-20T09:35:00"},
+    )
+
+    assert landing_response.status_code == 200
+    assert landing_response.json()["status"] == "LANDED"
+    assert landing_response.json()["landed_dt"] == "2026-06-20T09:35:00"
+
+
 def test_overflight_lifecycle_special_lists_and_not_found_paths(auth_client, db):
     payload = {
         "registration": "g-ovr",