diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index ed2a5dc..e6486e4 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@
     "passport": "^0.3.2",
     "passport-auth0": "^0.6.0",
     "path": "^0.12.7",
+    "sendbird-nodejs": "^1.0.0",
     "serve-static": "^1.11.1",
     "winston": "^2.1.1"
   },
diff --git a/src/config/param-validation.js b/src/config/param-validation.js
index 189283a..b7105d9 100644
--- a/src/config/param-validation.js
+++ b/src/config/param-validation.js
@@ -46,5 +46,11 @@ export default {
     params: {
       flightname: flightName
     }
+  },
+
+  chat: {
+    params: {
+      flightname: flightName
+    }
   }
 };
diff --git a/src/index.js b/src/index.js
index bbf5e88..a7f90d5 100644
--- a/src/index.js
+++ b/src/index.js
@@ -9,7 +9,8 @@ const path = require('path');
 Promise.promisifyAll(mongoose);
 
 // connect to mongo db
-winston.log('info', 'starting api service.');
+winston.log('info', 'gomake-api service started');
+
 mongoose.connect(config.db, { server: { socketOptions: { keepAlive: 1 } } });
 mongoose.connection.on('error', () => {
   winston.log('error', `Timestamp: ${new Date()} | ` +
diff --git a/src/server/controllers/chat.js b/src/server/controllers/chat.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..00eaaba
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/server/controllers/chat.js
@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+'use strict';
+
+import Flight from '../models/flight';
+import contentResponse from '../helpers/APIResponse';
+import SendBird from 'sendbird-nodejs';
+
+const API_TOKEN = process.env.GM_SENDBIRD_API_TOKEN;
+const CREATE_ERROR = 405;
+const CREATE_USERS_NOT_FOUND = 404;
+const CREATE_SUCCESS = 200;
+
+function createFlightChannel(req, res) {
+  const flightName = req.params.flightname.toUpperCase();
+  const getFlight = getFlightFromFlightName(flightName);
+  const sb = getSendBirdInstance();
+
+  getFlight
+    .then(getUsersForFlight)
+    .then((userIds) => {
+      const options = {
+        name: flightName,
+        custom_type: flightName,
+        user_ids: userIds,
+        is_distinct: true
+      };
+      return sb.groupChannels.create(options);
+    })
+    .then((response) => {
+      if (response) {
+        const channelUrl = response.channel_url;
+        res.send(CREATE_SUCCESS, contentResponse({ channel_url: channelUrl }));
+      } else {
+        res.sendStatus(CREATE_ERROR);
+      }
+    }, (err) => {
+      console.log(err);
+      res.sendStatus(err);
+    });
+}
+
+function getFlightFromFlightName(flightName) {
+  return Flight.getFlightFromFlightName(flightName);
+}
+
+function getSendBirdInstance() {
+  return new SendBird(API_TOKEN);
+}
+
+function getUsersForFlight(foundFlight) {
+  if (foundFlight) {
+    const userIds = foundFlight.userIds || [];
+    if (!!!userIds.length) {
+      return Promise.reject(CREATE_USERS_NOT_FOUND);
+    }
+    return Promise.resolve(userIds);
+  }
+  return Promise.reject(CREATE_ERROR);
+}
+
+function getFlightChannel(req, res) {
+  const flightName = req.params.flightname.toUpperCase();
+  getChannelForFlight(flightName)
+    .then((response) => {
+      const channels = response.channels;
+      res.json(contentResponse(channels));
+  });
+}
+
+function getChannelForFlight(flightName) {
+  const sb = getSendBirdInstance();
+  const options = {
+    custom_type: flightName
+  };
+  return sb.groupChannels.list(options);
+}
+
+export default {
+  createFlightChannel,
+  getFlightChannel
+};
diff --git a/src/server/models/flight.js b/src/server/models/flight.js
index d57e270..55ba58a 100644
--- a/src/server/models/flight.js
+++ b/src/server/models/flight.js
@@ -9,7 +9,8 @@ const FlightSchema = new mongoose.Schema({
   launchLocation: mongoose.Schema.Types.GeoJSON,
   launchAltitude: Number,
   registeredTrackers: Array,
-  deviceIds: Array
+  deviceIds: Array,
+  userIds: Array
 }, {
   timestamps: true
 });
diff --git a/src/server/routes/flight.js b/src/server/routes/flight.js
index 486ac96..14fc9bd 100644
--- a/src/server/routes/flight.js
+++ b/src/server/routes/flight.js
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import validate from 'express-validation';
 import telemetryCtrl from '../controllers/telemetry';
 import flightInfoCtrl from '../controllers/flight';
 import historyCtrl from '../controllers/history';
+import chat from '../controllers/chat';
 import paramValidation from '../../config/param-validation';
 import authentication from '../middleware/authentication';
 
@@ -16,7 +17,6 @@ router.route('/:flightname')
 router.route('/:flightname')
   .post(validate(paramValidation.flightInfo), flightInfoCtrl.postFlightInfo);
 
-
 /** GET flight telemetry */
 router.route('/:flightname/telemetry')
       .get(validate(paramValidation.telemetry), telemetryCtrl.getTelemetry);
@@ -29,4 +29,20 @@ router.route('/:flightname/telemetry')
 router.route('/:flightname/history')
   .get(validate(paramValidation.history), historyCtrl.getFlightHistory);
 
+/** POST flight chat: create group_channel for flight if does not exist */
+router.route('/:flightname/chat')
+  .post(validate(paramValidation.chat), chat.createFlightChannel);
+
+/** GET flight chat: get group_channel for flight */
+router.route('/:flightname/chat')
+  .get(validate(paramValidation.chat), chat.getFlightChannel);
+
+/** POST flight user ids: create group_channel for flight if does not exist */
+router.route('/:flightname/users/:userId')
+  .post(validate(paramValidation.chat), chat.createFlightChannel);
+
+/** GET flight user ids: get group_channel for flight */
+router.route('/:flightname/users/:userId')
+  .get(validate(paramValidation.chat), chat.getFlightChannel);
+
 export default router;
diff --git a/src/server/routes/history.js b/src/server/routes/history.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29