Question about computer logbooks

[Cooper]

Question about computer logbooks, specifically about the printouts.

I have a question about the computer logbooks, any of them will do, it has to do with the end user print outs you can generate with most of the high-end computer logbooks.

I recently purchased Logbook Pro and I really like it. I bought it to organize my paper logs, they are at best a mess. I have my original logbook I was given as a student and private pilot which has around 120 hrs in it, I have the next logbook I purchased a sporty’s pro logbook, which suffered a horrible fate at the hands of a pot of coffee landing on it at 5 AM one morning, it has around 600 hrs in it. Then my final paper logbook which I tried to carry over all my previous time line by line creating one complete book, but I messed up somewhere along the line, goobered up my math and my times don’t jive up.

I purchased a computer logbook in hopes of consolidating all of my time in one format, one that I can correct when I find errors and one that has a uniform layout.

Now my question about the print outs you can generate range that from single page totals to custom graphics layouts to the full page by page printout in Jeppesen format showing a traditional logbook page which you can place in a binder is this.

Which one is acceptable to the FAA, to a future employer, to show recent experience for FSI recurrent?

Do I print out the whole thing, or do I just print out the various summaries.

Are these logbooks acceptable to the FAA or do I still need to keep a traditional paper log? It would seem not so, if these were not acceptable to the FAA there would be something in the package about that, wouldn’t there?

Any help or even opinions are welcomed

Cooper

 

[Michael Knight]

I'm glad you asked your question. It made me look at the requirements a little more. Part 61 says "Each person must document and record the following time in a manner acceptable to the Administrator:" http://www.smartregs.com/data/sf6151.htm

I also checked AOPA and some excerpts from magazines about computerized logbooks and the FAA. The consensus is that computer logbooks are fine but that the difficult part appears to be recording endorsements. One article mentioned printing out or retainig endorsements in a separate notebook. Another mentioned that one could use their old logbook (the one you stop using) to record endorsements.

My computer logbook has been a composite logbook of all my time so I can easily total my flight time for applications and make a neat printout of the logbook and summaries. I've had the hard logbooks to back it up so far but I plan on simply printing in the future to have a hard copy. I believe I will use my old logbook to record future endorsements.

Currently I have two composite logbooks on computer that I print out: one records flight time in aircraft and the other records time in simulators.

As far as employers go... to each their own. I got lots of compliments on my computer logbook and the summaries that it produced. One company preferred the printed logbook but I still think it was good to have the hard logbooks with me which showed all the early endorsements.

So, I guess I'd say keeping the hard logbooks is the conservative thing to do, at least through ATP when most of your endorsements have been recorded. Everyone will have to decide on their own when and if they should stop using the pen and switch to the keyboard.

I'm curious how others record their time and what experience they have had with recording endorsements with respect to using a computer logbook. If there are any FAA inspectors, Designated Examiners or others with insight on this, please shed some light on what will best comply with requirements (especially pertaining to proper recording of endorsements).

Thanks