Digital Pilot Logbook— Data entry fatigue
 

all,

I’ve been looking at my stack of old paper logbooks and a legacy digital app that just hiked its subscription price (again), and it got me thinking—are we doing this all wrong?

The "Data Entry Fatigue" is real. I know guys with 5,000+ hours who still haven't gone digital because the thought of typing in ten years of flying is enough to make them quit the industry.

I’m curious about three things from the group:

1. The Backup Reality Check: For those on digital, what’s your actual backup? If your provider’s servers went dark tomorrow, do you have a readable, local copy (CSV/Excel), or is your career history essentially a "rental"?

2. The Pricing vs. Innovation Gap: Does anyone else feel like the "big name" logbook apps have stopped innovating while prices keep climbing? We’re paying more for essentially the same interface we had in 2018.

3. Will AI actually solve this? I’ve started seeing tools that claim to use AI/OCR to scan handwritten logs directly into digital formats. Has anyone actually tried this? Is it ready for prime time, or are the error rates still too high for a CAA/FAA audit?

I’m struggling to find an "exit strategy" from my current setup that doesn't involve 100 hours of manual typing. What are you guys doing to future-proof your records?

Cheers,

What's the reason for going digital? Why would someone with 5000+ hours need to log anything over and above that required for currency? If you want to go digital you can either go fully digital (with all the work that may or may not entail) or start a digital log from now on. You could also add digital photos of your written logbook pages.

What makes digital more future proof than non-digital? We will still be able to read from paper in 500 years time. Whether your digital file will still be around by then, whether there will be software around that can read it, that's the big question here.

Digital has a few benefits in being able to quickly summarise hours on various types and sub-types, but beyond that it's fully up to you as to what you prefer. And with so many hours, will you ever need to show your logbook apart from having to prove currency? Mind you, after hanging up your headset, a paper logbook can be shown to (grand)kids with pride and the associated stories can be told, you can flip through it on rainy days and reminisce. I'm not sure a digital logbook has that same feature. ;)

My digital log is maintained on my own computer and needs no service provider. The log files are backed up to a commercial cloud service and local storage media.

I started a digital log back in 1981 and, for many years, kept parallel paper records. I have now abandoned use of paper log books except for required endorsements.

Just think of your new setup as starting a new logbook; no need to type in every flight from day 1, just transfer over the important totals & add each new flight as it happens.

Of course this does depend on your software & how searchable you want your digital logbook to be. If you're handy with spreadsheets just make up a searchable xlsx & make your own search functions.

Any decent logbook software should have the ability to download a backup in a non-proprietary format.

PilotLogX - Digital logbook
 

Hi everyone, I’m a B777 pilot and I’ve been building PilotLogX — a professional flight logbook app that already has a growing user base and currently supports EASA, including official logbook layouts for export and printing.
Currently available: EASA compliant logbook with official layouts and more features.
In development: import from other apps, the ability to photograph your paper logbook and automatically populate your digital logbook (might be a key factor)
I’m looking for partners to help grow the app. Feedback especially welcome from pilots flying under other authorities.
pilotlogx.com
App Store

remember, a landing always an aborted go-around
safe flights

Note: as a free App this post has been approved, https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pilotlogx/id6743996733 is the link

SPlot