diff --git a/include/aman/com/AircraftReporter.h b/include/aman/com/AircraftReporter.h
index 55d83b2..6ebea6b 100644
--- a/include/aman/com/AircraftReporter.h
+++ b/include/aman/com/AircraftReporter.h
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@
 
 #include <aman/types/Communication.h>
 
+#include "protobuf/AircraftReport.pb.h"
+
 namespace aman {
     /**
      * @brief Defines the aircraft reporter class which sends aircraft information to the backend
@@ -50,6 +52,11 @@ namespace aman {
          * @brief Terminates the reporter connection
          */
         bool deinitialize();
+        /**
+         * @brief Checks if the reporter is initialized
+         * @return True if it is initialized, else false
+         */
+        bool initialized() const noexcept;
         /**
          * @brief Sends a new message to the backend
          * @param[in] report The new aircraft report
diff --git a/src/com/AircraftReporter.cpp b/src/com/AircraftReporter.cpp
index 2299cae..d18682f 100644
--- a/src/com/AircraftReporter.cpp
+++ b/src/com/AircraftReporter.cpp
@@ -57,6 +57,10 @@ bool AircraftReporter::deinitialize() {
     return true;
 }
 
+bool AircraftReporter::initialized() const noexcept {
+    return nullptr != this->m_socket;
+}
+
 bool AircraftReporter::send(const aman::AircraftReport& report) {
     bool retval = false;