Serious issue that I need help with

[A-V-8]

Recently while preparing for an early show I was in a hotel near the airport. My car was broken into and my chart case was among the things stolen. My original logbook was in my chart case. The first 550 hours of my 1650TT was represented. I am currently at a 121 carrier. It is easy to prove the 121 time because the company has to have records of that. The 1st flight to the hiring at my current job is another matter. I have a complete log of every single flight, landing, route, and total time just like the log book that I made as a backup in M.S. Excel. I also can re print my application to my current job with a page that was a summary of all of the flight time and that should add validity to my Excel log. I don’t have a photo copy of the log book.

Is this going to be a show stopper or just a black eye when I try to transition from here over to a good corporate job? Should I bring all of the evidence to support the old log book or wait for them to ask me for it? Will an insurance company consider my time to be shorted by the 550 of which I have no original log?

Should I quit and work as an examiner? Is this a career stopper?

How should I proceed with this?

 

[Doug Parker]

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Yeah, just hang up your hat and call that truck driving school....................

OR, you can contact the Feds at OKC and get copies of all of your 8710s and 8410s that have your flight times for each checkride you took - Just produce those with the logbooks you do still have during an interview and explain the situation.

And don't leave your logbooks in your car !!




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[sydeseet]

That's a bummer but you're going to be okay without it. As long as you come across as an upstanding contributor to society and an overall honest individual I can't think of a worthwhile flight department that wouldn't buy your story so long as you have a current log book and your skills match your claimed experience. I worked wih a pencil-whipper once and the truth came out shortly after he busted his second checkride and was promptly terminated with a huge black mark on his back forever.

I have a pretty good corporate gig and never had to show my logbook to anyone to get it.

Leave your current logbook at home next time and don't sweat it.

 

[Flyerjosh]

No biggie. Just do what you can to recreate the documents. I would suggest that you file a police report if you haven't already done so. It will help document that your logbook was stolen.

I too am wondering why you even carry your logbook with you. Leave it at home! Having it along just begs of some fed to get nosy during a ramp check when he sees it laying out in the cockpit (or on top of your flight case)...

 

[Lead Sled]

It will be a non-event for most corporate chief pilots. Just print out of copy of your excel file and get copies of your FAA paperwork to back it up. 550 hours isn't that big of a deal. Now if you were claiming to have 5,000 hours, but you had lost your logbook that had the first 4,500 hours we'd be having a different conversation.

For what it's worth, I occassionaly do contract flying. I've never been asked to provide anything more than an insurance quistionair and FlightSafety training certificates. I can't ever remember being asked to produce a logbook.

'Sled

 

[xdrvr]

I've never been asked to produce my logbook for Corporate gigs, don't even think I pulled it out flying 135 Cargo either. Definitely want your back up information, the police report isnt a bad idea either, but have documents to support your hours, and that's just in case. But again I've never even had to produce my logbook. Most info ever been asked for is my medical and pilot license. This doesn't just apply to logbooks, but I never keep anything in my car that I wouldn't miss.. Hard lesson though, hope it all works out... I'm sure it will.

 

[cezzna]

You must be kidding right? This is a NON-ISSUE for any flying job. Your experience is verifiable and your certificates valid. Lots of pilots don't even log time and manage to get hired.

Lighten up Francis.

 

[LegacyDriver]

Just have a Notary Public notarize a statement regarding your stolen logbook and your estimated flight times to that point.

I had all of my logbooks stolen and did this. Got hired at a job and then later had the logbooks recovered by law enforcement. Nobody batted an eye that they were gone.

 

[A-V-8]

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I must bid you a heart felt thank you for your words and encouragement. My logbook was in my cart case because I feel it is safer there than in my apartment. I have requested the police report. If I can recover the page of my application from my current job then that along with the police report will add validity to the story. I am an Army Veteran and a church going Christian. I have no criminal record of any kind other than some traffic tickets in the distant past. Anyone who doesn’t believe my story; well I don’t know yet because I’ve only been through 3 interviews. I had the logbook each time. My concern was not because I can't convince someone of my time but not prove it. If they done even ask to see my log books in the interview then I will breathe a sigh of relief.

Thank you all
A-V-8

 

[G21Agoose]

Just have a Notary Public notarize a statement regarding your stolen logbook and your estimated flight times to that point.

I had all of my logbooks stolen and did this. Got hired at a job and then later had the logbooks recovered by law enforcement. Nobody batted an eye that they were gone.

LegacyDriver is quite correct. Your flight time is self declared and so it is up to the individual to be honest (most are) and you estimate to the best of your knowledge your flight time and it is acceptable-even for ratings. Once you have the appropriate ratings, as everyone has said here, no one cares- it's ability that counts.

Good luck- I do hope they find the guy who stole them and he gets punished severely- if he was a pilot make him fly a legacy for a couple of years; that'll teach him!!!!!!