Getting there

backend/app/schemas/local_flight.py

@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ class LocalFlightStatus(str, Enum):
 
 class LocalFlightBase(BaseModel):
     registration: str
-    type: str  # Aircraft type
+    type: Optional[str] = None  # Aircraft type - optional, can be looked up later
     callsign: Optional[str] = None
     pob: int
     flight_type: LocalFlightType
@@ -31,11 +31,13 @@ class LocalFlightBase(BaseModel):
             raise ValueError('Aircraft registration is required')
         return v.strip().upper()
 
-    @validator('type')
+    @validator('type', pre=True, always=False)
     def validate_type(cls, v):
-        if not v or len(v.strip()) == 0:
-            raise ValueError('Aircraft type is required')
-        return v.strip()
+        if v is None or (isinstance(v, str) and len(v.strip()) == 0):
+            return None
+        if isinstance(v, str):
+            return v.strip()
+        return v
 
     @validator('pob')
     def validate_pob(cls, v):