diff --git a/include/prototypes.h b/include/prototypes.h
index 4950e4a8..5fa5cb37 100644
--- a/include/prototypes.h
+++ b/include/prototypes.h
@@ -569,6 +569,7 @@ extern int put_plane_on_land(struct plnstr *, struct lndstr *);
 extern int pln_hitchance(struct plnstr *, int, int);
 extern int pln_damage(struct plnstr *, coord, coord, char, int *, int);
 extern int pln_identchance(struct plnstr *, int, int);
+extern int pln_is_in_orbit(struct plnstr *);
 extern void pln_set_tech(struct plnstr *, int);
 /* pr.c */
 extern void pr(char *, ...) ATTRIBUTE((format (printf, 1, 2)));
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/laun.c b/src/lib/commands/laun.c
index f51e17ba..39131968 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/laun.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/laun.c
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ laun(void)
 	       prplane(&plane));
 	    continue;
 	}
-	if ((plane.pln_flags & PLN_LAUNCHED) && (pcp->pl_flags & P_O)) {
+	if (pln_is_in_orbit(&plane)) {
 	    pr("%s already in orbit!\n", prplane(&plane));
 	    continue;
 	}
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ launch_as(struct plnstr *pp)
     while (!goodtarget && nxtitem(&ni, &plane)) {
 	if (!plane.pln_own)
 	    continue;
-	if (!(plane.pln_flags & PLN_LAUNCHED))
+	if (!pln_is_in_orbit(&plane))
 	    continue;
 	goodtarget = 1;
 
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/pdump.c b/src/lib/commands/pdump.c
index 78694204..6c21a65f 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/pdump.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/pdump.c
@@ -258,20 +258,12 @@ pdump(void)
 		pr(" %d", plane.pln_land);
 		break;
 	    case 18:
-		if ((plchr[(int)plane.pln_type].pl_flags & (P_O | P_M)) ==
-		    P_O) {
-		    pr(" %c",
-		       (plane.pln_flags & PLN_LAUNCHED) ? 'Y' : 'N');
-		} else
-		    pr(" N");
+		pr(pln_is_in_orbit(&plane) ? " Y" : " N");
 		break;
 	    case 19:
-		if ((plchr[(int)plane.pln_type].pl_flags & (P_O | P_M)) ==
-		    P_O) {
-		    pr(" %c",
-		       (plane.pln_flags & PLN_SYNCHRONOUS) ? 'Y' : 'N');
-		} else
-		    pr(" N");
+		pr(pln_is_in_orbit(&plane)
+		   && (plane.pln_flags & PLN_SYNCHRONOUS)
+		    ? " Y" : " N");
 		break;
 	    case 20:
 		if (plane.pln_nuketype != -1) {
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/plan.c b/src/lib/commands/plan.c
index 3b9b9fa4..136896ec 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/plan.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/plan.c
@@ -74,10 +74,8 @@ plan(void)
 	    pr("%5dL", plane.pln_land);
 	else
 	    pr("      ");
-	if (plane.pln_flags & PLN_SYNCHRONOUS)
-	    pr(" geosync");
-	else if (plane.pln_flags & PLN_LAUNCHED)
-	    pr(" orbit");
+	if (pln_is_in_orbit(&plane))
+	    pr((plane.pln_flags & PLN_SYNCHRONOUS) ? " geosync" : " orbit");
 	else if (plane.pln_nuketype >= 0)
 	    pr(" %-5.5s %c",
 	       nchr[(int)plane.pln_nuketype].n_name,
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/sate.c b/src/lib/commands/sate.c
index 24b77a22..8c574e5d 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/sate.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/sate.c
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ sate(void)
 	return RET_FAIL;
     }
 
-    if (!(plane.pln_flags & PLN_LAUNCHED)) {
+    if (!pln_is_in_orbit(&plane)) {
 	pr("%s isn't in orbit\n", prplane(&plane));
 	return RET_FAIL;
     }
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/skyw.c b/src/lib/commands/skyw.c
index 6cecd8f0..62f23120 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/skyw.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/skyw.c
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ skyw(void)
     while (nxtitem(&ni, &skyp->s_sat)) {
 	if (!skyp->s_sat.pln_own)
 	    continue;
-	if (!(skyp->s_sat.pln_flags & PLN_LAUNCHED))
+	if (!pln_is_in_orbit(&skyp->s_sat))
 	    continue;
 	getsect(skyp->s_sat.pln_x, skyp->s_sat.pln_y, &sect);
 	n = scthash(skyp->s_sat.pln_x, skyp->s_sat.pln_y, TSIZE);
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/trad.c b/src/lib/commands/trad.c
index 80fe7230..b6ef02d7 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/trad.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/trad.c
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ trad(void)
      * actually made, except for satellites in orbit.  Must be owned
      * and must be a 60% airfield (except for VTOL planes).
      */
-    if (((trade.trd_type == EF_PLANE) && !(tg.plane.pln_flags & PLN_LAUNCHED))
+    if (((trade.trd_type == EF_PLANE) && !pln_is_in_orbit(&tg.plane))
 	|| (trade.trd_type == EF_NUKE)) {
 	while (1) {
 	    p = getstring("Destination sector: ", buf);
@@ -364,7 +364,7 @@ check_trade(void)
 			tg.nuke.nuk_x, tg.nuke.nuk_y);
 	    break;
 	case EF_PLANE:
-	    if ((tg.plane.pln_flags & PLN_LAUNCHED) == 0) {
+	    if (!pln_is_in_orbit(&tg.plane)) {
 		tg.plane.pln_x = trade.trd_x;
 		tg.plane.pln_y = trade.trd_y;
 	    }
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/tran.c b/src/lib/commands/tran.c
index ec737402..b2da0d09 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/tran.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/tran.c
@@ -175,8 +175,7 @@ tran_plane(void)
 	    pr("%s has been hardened and can't be transported\n",
 	       prplane(&plane));
 	    return RET_FAIL;
-	} else if ((plane.pln_flags & PLN_LAUNCHED) &&
-		   (plchr[type].pl_flags & P_O)) {
+	} else if (pln_is_in_orbit(&plane)) {
 	    pr("%s is in space and can't be transported\n",
 	       prplane(&plane));
 	    return RET_FAIL;
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/upgr.c b/src/lib/commands/upgr.c
index 119fb912..3216f7fc 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/upgr.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/upgr.c
@@ -272,10 +272,12 @@ pupgr(void)
 	       plane.pln_uid);
 	    continue;
 	}
-	if (plane.pln_flags & PLN_LAUNCHED) {
+	if (pln_is_in_orbit(&plane)) {
 	    pr("Plane %s is in orbit!\n", prplane(&plane));
 	    continue;
 	}
+	if (plane.pln_flags & PLN_LAUNCHED)
+	    continue;
 	n++;
 	pp = &plchr[(int)plane.pln_type];
 	avail = (PLN_BLD_WORK(pp->pl_lcm, pp->pl_hcm) * UPGR_COST + 99) / 100;
diff --git a/src/lib/subs/plnsub.c b/src/lib/subs/plnsub.c
index 2eddb817..d54643fc 100644
--- a/src/lib/subs/plnsub.c
+++ b/src/lib/subs/plnsub.c
@@ -1236,6 +1236,13 @@ pln_mobcost(int dist, struct plnstr *pp, int flags)
     return ldround(cost * dist / pln_range_max(pp) + 5, 1);
 }
 
+int
+pln_is_in_orbit(struct plnstr *pp)
+{
+    return (plchr[pp->pln_type].pl_flags & (P_M | P_O)) == P_O
+	&& (pp->pln_flags & PLN_LAUNCHED);
+}
+
 /*
  * Set PP's tech to TLEV along with everything else that depends on it.
  */
diff --git a/src/lib/subs/radmap.c b/src/lib/subs/radmap.c
index ea5579ca..0ab3c12b 100644
--- a/src/lib/subs/radmap.c
+++ b/src/lib/subs/radmap.c
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ radmap2(int owner,
 	x = deltx(&ns.range, (int)plane.pln_x);
 	y = delty(&ns.range, (int)plane.pln_y);
 
-	if ((plane.pln_flags & PLN_LAUNCHED) && plane.pln_own != owner) {
+	if (pln_is_in_orbit(&plane) && plane.pln_own != owner) {
 	    vis[y][x] = 100;
 	    rad[y][x] = '$';
 	}
diff --git a/src/lib/update/plane.c b/src/lib/update/plane.c
index 6ac47b4a..a0392298 100644
--- a/src/lib/update/plane.c
+++ b/src/lib/update/plane.c
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ prod_plane(int etus, int natnum, struct bp *bp, int buildem)
 	    continue;
 	}
 
-	if (pp->pln_flags & PLN_LAUNCHED) {
+	if (pln_is_in_orbit(pp)) {
 	    if (!player->simulation && buildem == 0
 		&& !(pp->pln_flags & PLN_SYNCHRONOUS))
 		move_sat(pp);