Looking for new logbook
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It's a piece of your property so you can feel free to tippex at will, or write whatever you want into it! It isn't really a "legal document" in the way a contract might be. If you submit it as evidence of flying experience for the purposes of license issue, then of course it must accurately record your flying experience to date. Beyond that the aesthetics don't really matter, which I suppose explains the wide range of styles available on the market.
Last edited by taxistaxing; 2nd Jan 2013 at 20:38. Reason: Spelling
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But then what guarantee is there that a pilot will not just simply get a page of entries signed off, then edit at will to make the hours accrued bigger? I would have thought that if the CAA, or any authority, received a logbook full of correction fluid it would have raised suspicions. 
Last edited by Odai; 3rd Jan 2013 at 14:50.
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I've always derived great satisfaction from filling in an old school printed logbook right after the shutdown. It's like a little ritual I have. But I've just bought LogBook Pro and will transfer all my logbook entries (horrendous task) into it so I have an electronic backup, should the printed one ever go missing or get destroyed. The good thing about an electronic one is that it keeps track of everything - medicals, times, expirations etc.
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But then what guarantee is there that a pilot will not just simply get a page of entries signed off, then edit at will to make the hours accrued bigger? I would have thought that if the CAA, or any authority, received a logbook full of correction fluid it would have raised suspicions. 
There are ways the CAA could check your entries, e.g. calling the airports you say you've visited and asking to see ATC records, or cross checking your log against the tech logs of the aircraft you've flown. Very difficult if it's your own aircraft or if you fly to unlicensed fields where there are no ATC records.
Not sure how often this happens in practise, but I've read stories of pilots with "parker pen" flying hours at all levels up to and including airlines! e.g.
Pilot suspended over logbook 'fake' | UK news | The Guardian
Last edited by taxistaxing; 3rd Jan 2013 at 15:36.
It wouldn't surprise me if they phoned up airports to verify t/o and landing times once in a while - it would be relatively easy to do and you might hope to catch any substantial percentage of parker hours with only a few calls.
Early on I messed up the way I'd recorded all my times and had to copy out about 40 hours of flying into a new logbook. It was surprisingly difficult to do without making a further mess. The flying school kept a free stock of identical biros so even legitimate hours logged probably looked suspicious!
Early on I messed up the way I'd recorded all my times and had to copy out about 40 hours of flying into a new logbook. It was surprisingly difficult to do without making a further mess. The flying school kept a free stock of identical biros so even legitimate hours logged probably looked suspicious!
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It wouldn't surprise me if they phoned up airports to verify t/o and landing times once in a while
It has certainly come as a surprise to me (as someone who scrupulously records their time I might add!) to realise how few checks and balances there are in the system.
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But then what guarantee is there that a pilot will not just simply get a page of entries signed off, then edit at will to make the hours accrued bigger? I would have thought that if the CAA, or any authority, received a logbook full of correction fluid it would have raised suspicions.
Last edited by BAe 146-100; 5th Jan 2013 at 14:19.
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Fair enough, but as taxistaxing implied, there does seem to be an awful lot of holes in a system that awards flying privileges based on reported experience...
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Anyone found any decent electronic logbook software?
Specifically one that will download flights directly from your airlines server to save you the work?
I've been looking at this one, but it's a little pricey if it doesn't work.
mccPILOTLOG Logbook Software
having said that, I'm currently on my fourth logbook as it is, each at a cost of around £15.
Specifically one that will download flights directly from your airlines server to save you the work?
I've been looking at this one, but it's a little pricey if it doesn't work.
mccPILOTLOG Logbook Software
having said that, I'm currently on my fourth logbook as it is, each at a cost of around £15.
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Digital log book
I have been using excel for the last 8 years as a digital back-up to my paper log book. It means that whatever bespoke stats I need to com up with, I can pull them out really easily. I also record interesting pax rides in it, but obviously I've set these to not count in the totals.
Bonus is that it's free. I keep a master copy at work and email regular updates to my private email address so no matter where I am, if I can get my email, I can get my log book and whatever detail I want from it.
Bonus is that it's free. I keep a master copy at work and email regular updates to my private email address so no matter where I am, if I can get my email, I can get my log book and whatever detail I want from it.
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Ah Odai, back again I see, and still viewing with skepticism any advice tendered by these helpful posters.
To all of them, and you if you wish to take advice, PHOTOCOPY and keep separately every page of your logbook.
Don't hesitate to use more than one line to record details of flights, there is no requirement to be analy retentive, or tidy; and the more detail the more cherished will be your records. For example, recording weather conditions, instructors, challenges, landouts, crashes, etc etc. The more detail the better, and do NOT go back and copy everything over into a fancy professional book, that will definitely give an impression of doubtful veracity and posing.
To all of them, and you if you wish to take advice, PHOTOCOPY and keep separately every page of your logbook.
Don't hesitate to use more than one line to record details of flights, there is no requirement to be analy retentive, or tidy; and the more detail the more cherished will be your records. For example, recording weather conditions, instructors, challenges, landouts, crashes, etc etc. The more detail the better, and do NOT go back and copy everything over into a fancy professional book, that will definitely give an impression of doubtful veracity and posing.
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Ah Odai, back again I see, and still viewing with skepticism any advice tendered by these helpful posters.
The more detail the better, and do NOT go back and copy everything over into a fancy professional book, that will definitely give an impression of doubtful veracity and posing.
Last edited by Odai; 5th Jan 2013 at 21:41.
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I've looked into mccpilotlog, and downloaded the PC and mobile software. It looks very impressive, and does pretty much everything I might need.
The cost isn't huge, as there is only a one time fee of 69 euros, and considering I'd never need to buy another paper logbook (at about £20 a pop) again it seems cost effective.
The options to export include either a PDF or a hardcopy printed in a choice of different standard formats. Any ideas if the CAA/EASA would accept this? It'd be a massive pain if I logged all my flying electronically and then had to go back and put it all into a paper book because the authorities won't accept the former.
The cost isn't huge, as there is only a one time fee of 69 euros, and considering I'd never need to buy another paper logbook (at about £20 a pop) again it seems cost effective.
The options to export include either a PDF or a hardcopy printed in a choice of different standard formats. Any ideas if the CAA/EASA would accept this? It'd be a massive pain if I logged all my flying electronically and then had to go back and put it all into a paper book because the authorities won't accept the former.
