Can someone explain what a pilot's log book records, is it like a private diary of every flight he or she has done or does it contain technical details. Does an airline pilot log the aircraft he is flying in, in his log book i.e. G-???? Boeing 777 British Airways. Also does a pilot carry the log book through out his career or if he or she flies for an Airline does the airline have there own log books and retain them when the pilot leaves.

curious
Albert

A pilots log book is essentially a personal record of hours flown but is also a legal requirement. It records aircraft type and reg, dates and times, departure and arrival locations and flight condition times (ie time spent as P1 or P2, instrument time, night flying time, sim time etc). The logbook(s) remains the property of the pilot.

This information can also be checked by regulatory authorities to verify that the requisite number of hours have been achieved prior to the award of additional ratings.

Technical details about the aircraft are recorded in the aircraft logbook which remains with the aircraft at all times.

Cheers,
This was one of those questions I have been wanting to ask for a while. So what happens to the aircraft logbook when it is scrapped off. Is it thrown in the bin as well.

much appreciated
Albert

From seeing and speaking to old Airline pilots they keep their old log books and when the time comes for the final flight in a box their children keep them as momentoes.One elderly pilot I know has his logbooks going back to the time he first flew as a student pilot at the Empire flying schools in Canada during WW2 and finishing as a senior Captain on Tridents and he is now in his 80s and they are highly prized.
Aircraft Tech Logs have to be kept for at least 6months after the A/C is scrapped and are then destroyed unless the A/C is on display purposes then they can be kept with the A/C but the registration ie G-????? is withdrawn.

Is it worth posting a request to old pilots who are still with us today, to ask if they could look at their old log books. To see if they flew on these three dates 31/7/77, 3/9/78 and 15/10/78 into Heathrow Airport. I am interested to know the registration of the aircraft and flight number.

Albert

Albert, apart from having a lot to learn about discretion and a soupcon of tact, you have a lot of grammar to sort out! You do know about 'their' and 'there', don't you? Question marks? And also, posting in multiple forums is frowned upon? You knew all that really, didn't you?

But I am curious! Has it been devastating for you missing those registrations for over 32 years? Gnawing away? Blank rows in a Spotting Book with empty spaces that dance around in your dreams? How have you managed?