5/18/2023 0 Comments Safelog pilot logbook cofounderYou simply provided your COPA number to the software provider and they put a disk in the mail. Many years later, the Canadian Owners and Pilots Association (COPA), as a member benefit, provided free logbook software to its members. Fortunately, I was using my paper logbook as a backup to my digital logbook. Reinstalling the software was no help, so I was forced back to my paper logbook. That was the end of support for the software, but I continued using his software until one day it crashed with an unrecoverable error. Eventually, he discovered that there was no money to be made in his efforts and closed up shop. He was a sole proprietor with no staff and working out of his house, but the software was neatly packaged and distributed through pilot shops. The software was created by a pilot tech guy, who thought that there could be a better way to deal with logbooks. The software had great reporting and I used it annually to provide the insurance company with my hours, with the required pilot history form completed in a matter of minutes, rather than hours with pen, paper and a calculator. Data entry was not too arduous and over the course of a few weekends, I had entered all my flights into the new software. The software worked well, and it used a popular database to store each flight record. I had some stumbles when over 15 years ago I purchased my first logbook software program at my local pilot shop. This is important data, so think about future support. ![]() A flying friend keeps his paper logbook in a Ziploc water-resistant bag, which is great to keep the rain off the paper as you dash from the aircraft to the FBO in a downpour, or protect them if they end up in a flood. A typical GA logbook is roughly 17 inches when fully opened. If you do nothing else, back them up and keep them safe-it’s easy to scan or photocopy your logbook. The FAA and NTSB could request them during an investigation, or you might have to confirm your flight hours during legal proceedings, for employment and for annual insurance reporting. In the paper world, protecting your logbook becomes critical for a variety of reasons. In a typical logbook, there’s always room for the instructor to note their pilot number and provide a signature. The FARs also outline when to log time as PIC, SIC, student and even the use of night vision goggle time. ![]() The FAA’s FAR 61.51 (Pilot Logbooks) outlines the regulations for the minimum information that must be recorded including date, total flight time, location where the aircraft departed and arrived, aircraft type and identification, pilot experience and conditions of flight. Here’s a primer, with advice on launching your own digital logging process. ![]() But more of us are turning to electronic logging, made easier with the advanced logging features in common cockpit apps like ForeFlight and Garmin Pilot (to name just two), plus some dedicated programs. It’s true that paper pilot logbooks are inexpensive and for the average pilot, the books can last a lifetime. They’re tough to lose and destroy, plus they can automatically do the logging for you, with digital graphics as a bonus. That's the LogTen Pro program, shown with a useful Apple Watch widget.Įlectronic logbooks eliminate the challenge of squeezing handwritten text into small boxes with limited space.
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