Things like date, aircraft registration, type of aircraft, location, and flight time are just some of the data required. There is no legal requirement for a pilot to have a logbook, or for a logbook to be formatted in a specific manner but there are several elements that are required to be documented according to 14 CFR §61.51(b) Pilot Logbooks. This is where their pilot logbook comes in. To be able to accurately maintain track of all the different types of hours a pilot flies, some form of document or table is needed.

Pilots use the logbook to track their various flying experiences by hours, the hours in specific aircraft, and many other flying experiences. When proof is needed by a pilot applying for a job, for an audit by the FAA, or when involved in an accident the logbook is the main document that is referred to. Their reports are housed at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC. This was the beginning of the pilot logbooks we know today. The Captain’s Log was a record that was used to keep a running journal of things aboard ship and pertinent information that could later be referred back to.Īviation pioneers Orville & Wilbur Wright were known to have kept detailed ‘Field Reports’ of every flight they made to help document their findings. Some of the oldest logs originate from shipping. Logbooks are official proof of flying experience.Ī well-kept, neat logbook is not only great for a personal record but until the pilot is very experienced pilot a logbook is essential and in some cases can make the difference of a pilot securing that dream job! Find out how… Where Did Pilot Logbooks Originate? They document flight times, types of aircraft flown, types of flying situations flown and record memories and significant events. That very first step to becoming a pilot is on its way and from that point on your record of experience has begun!Ī Pilot’s Logbook is a paper or digital document used to log every flight flown with the details of that flight. Filling out the first line in your pilot logbook is a memorable occasion that pretty much every pilot remembers.

How to fill out gleim pilot logbook