Best Way to Safeguard a Logbook

[Despam]

We all know how disastrous it is to lose ones logbook. What are the various options available to guard against losing a logbook or minimize its loss against theft, fire or natural disaster.

 

Your opinions are welcome.

[Flying Pig]

Photo copy each completed page of your log book and put the pages in a separate binder and keep it separate from your real one. That way if something happens, you at least have all of your totals. THere is nothing that says your time needs to be in a "logbook" either. You can keep it in a school notebook as long as you can account for, and locate information. Not very professional......but still

My logbook was lost when my car was stolen with my flight bag in the trunk. Fortunately I had only completed my private airplane and helicopter with only a couple short flights in each with after my checkrides, so my TT was pretty easy to remember.

[r22butters]

_{After completing a page I zerox it, and put that in a firebox. I also scan it into my computer, and then back that up onto two different flash keys.}

 

_{I also keep all of my flight reciepts, scanning them into my computer as well! My logbook itself is kept in a ziplock bag for protection against the dreaded coffee spills!}

[C.R.O.]

Not the best option as a student, but once you have your training completed, I would recommend an electronic logbook of some sort.

 

I switched over two years ago and I thankful that I did. Much easier to keep track of various types of aircraft, totals, etc.

[Rogue]

I use Logbook Pro software.

 

I know there is probably a million people that will disagree with what I'm about to say.... once I got the license in my pocket the endorsements are worthless to me personally. There is probably a real good reason to have them saved somewhere safe. I've yet to hear a good reason why though.

[RagMan]

I hear the online logbooks are pretty nifty. Comes with the price obviously. I just made an electronic one out of Microsoft Excel. Was rather easy and I kept the same format as in my paper logbook, with the addition of a few blocks.

[Gomer Pylot]

Electronic logbook, backed up on something like Dropbox, plus backed up to flash media and stored in a fireproof safe. You can get one of those very cheap at an office supply store, and they're well worth the money. Flash drives/SDHC cards are very cheap, and very reliable. There are reports of them working after having a nail driven through them. I haven't kept a paper logbook since the late 80s.

[ChprPlt]

I always had the idea of putting it in a safe deposit box. I think that would be a safe place.

[Machinegun21]

After I complete all of my ratings(currently working on CFI) I will keep that logbook in my Firearms Safe and start a new one as my instructor logbook and once im doing instructing I will keep that one in my Firearms Safe.

 

In addition, I am also in the process of backing up all of my entrys in a custom Excell spreadsheet I made. That way I will have 2 copies.

 

Just my 2 cents

[C of G]

If you keep an electronic copy, just email it to yourself as you update it. That's a pretty easy back up and it's available anywhere you have internet access.

[Pohi]

If you keep an electronic copy, just email it to yourself as you update it. That's a pretty easy back up and it's available anywhere you have internet access.

 

That's what I do.

 

As far as endorsements and things like that, I take a picture with my phone and email that to myself too.

 

I used to put my logbook in a fireproof bag, wrap that in tin foil, then wrap that in plastic wrap. Then I would put that in a little safe, which I would put in a bigger, fireproof safe and bury the whole thing in the back yard. I then fenced off the yard with razor wire, and got a combination of bears and tigers to patrol the area for added safety.

 

I gave that up after a while because the bears and tigers couldn't play nice with each other, or my children. My two girls got eaten by the bears while having a tea party with the kitties.

 

Electronic is much easier

Edited November 3, 2011 by Pohi

[Gomer Pylot]

Email works, but using something like Dropbox is easier and safer, IMO. All files in your Dropbox folder are automatically synced after every change, and Dropbox keeps several previous versions available, in case you do something to remove a file or change it incorrectly. You can keep the same file on multiple computers as well as on the site, giving you multiple backups, all without effort. I keep all my essential files there, and encrypt the sensitive ones locally before they're synced to Dropbox. There are other sites that do more or less the same thing, and it's just a matter of personal preference as to which is better.

[rick1128]

You will find some FAA Inspectors that will tell you that the electronic logbooks are not 'official' and therefore are not acceptable. They are incorrect. I just went through this in July. There is a letter of interpretation covering this and they are acceptable. It can be in any format as long as the FAA can compute your times. Sign-offs and endorsements can be on a diner napkin, as long as it is worded properly, dated and signed. Keeping photocopies of your pages will quickly get out of hand. For required sign-offs and endorsements, I get it on an index card and put in a folder I keep. But I also scan it and place the file in several locations.

 

When you start out is the best time to start with the electronic logbook. I started after I had several thousand hours and it was a bear to do. Back it up often. I originally started with Aerolg Pro and recently switched over to Logbook Pro.

[Gomer Pylot]

One final thought - if you want to stick to a paper logbook, an excellent way to make backups is to scan the logbook to a file and then store that in multiple places. All-in-one printer/scanner/fax machines are pretty cheap these days. One could also use one's fancy smartphone to take pictures of the logbook pages and store them in multiple places.

[CharyouTree]

Google docs is another good option for the electronic version, vs emailing it to yourself all the time, or dropbox...

[Kandace]

I just take a digital picture of each page put it in my computer and then burn it to a disc.

 

Kandace

[Goldy]

Excel is easy to add columns and such, and there are several free log books on excel out on the internet. I use one that was posted on VR about 4 years ago......not sure why anyone would pay for Logbook Pro unless it has some REALLY cool features.

 

I keep my logbook at home. I have a back up photocopy of each page and an electronic version with a separate back up. The Seagate 1Tb hard drive back up is the easiest to use and the best $89 bucks I've ever spent.

 

Once you have your certificate, why would you ever keep your book with you or in your flight bag (except those times you are getting addtl training or endorsements)?

[dowd]

Hide it under the matress or bury it in the back yard.

[Rogue]

Excel is easy to add columns and such, and there are several free log books on excel out on the internet. I use one that was posted on VR about 4 years ago......not sure why anyone would pay for Logbook Pro unless it has some REALLY cool features.

 

I keep my logbook at home. I have a back up photocopy of each page and an electronic version with a separate back up. The Seagate 1Tb hard drive back up is the easiest to use and the best $89 bucks I've ever spent.

 

Once you have your certificate, why would you ever keep your book with you or in your flight bag (except those times you are getting addtl training or endorsements)?

 

I agree, Logbook Pro was a gift - I wouldn't have bought it on my own. My two cents is that is has a steep learning curve. It is highly customizable with just pull down menus though for the Excel challenged. It has built in reminder tools which look to be very handy for 135 and 121 pilots.

 

My main purpose in wanting it in all honesty was... after spending about three hours going through my logbook to do my rotorcraft private add-on to my private fixed wing certificate which was a major headache to fill out the IACRA forms for - the software can compile all those numbers for you in seconds.

 

If I knew about Excel more the free ones out there are plenty fine I just didn't know how to compile information that separates it out by category of aircraft.

[HeliNinja]

I prefer to take a digital photo of each page since camera phones are so prevalent these days. The photo is then synced with your computer where you can go even further and back it up online with the many ways listed previously. Since it's a photo, using a photo sharing site like Flickr makes it super simple.

[mrjibbs]

Oy, this is a heart wrenching subject for me...

 

It was 2008, I was down in San Deigo for a job interview. I was an unemployed 500 hour CFII at the time. I was borrowing my grandma's car, a prestine 1998 Honda Accord, and it was parked outside of my friends house in Pacific Beach the night before my interview... When my friend and I went out to get breakfast, the car was not there, stolen in the dark of night. Inside was my flight bag, to include my nice David Clark's and my ONLY copy of my logbook. I know, I know. But I was naive.

 

Needless to say that was a disaster, and the worst day of my young career. I was in shock, didnt know what to do. i thought surely nobody would ever believe me and I would never be taken seriously. Car theft, likely story right? May as well say my dog ate my homework! Luckily, I had taken time to make copies of my endorsements, but that was it. No electronic back up or anything of the sort.

 

I did my best to recount the hours, as being a low time CFII I was very keen on where I was at. But losing all those pages of signatures from training and such as a big blow for me, mentally. Not sure if that stuff would ever matter, but it mattered to me. I have since gone electronic and try and have multiple back ups, and just carry a small logbook when need be.

 

Lesson learned, albeit the proverbial hard way.....

[avbug]

I'm just wrapping up my current logbook; it's been about 11 hours filling this one out. Some of the others ranged from three to ten years to fill in, too.

 

A few thoughts...

 

Losing your logbook can be a real problem. Backing it up is a wise choice. I use Logbook Pro, though I still haven't managed to go back through all my logs to fill them. If you start using it early, it's a lot easier to put everything into the program. It also helps safeguard your logs because you can take your laptop or other device with you, then transfer it to the paper logs when you make it back home again. I spend a lot of time on the road; keeping the log on the computer works out well, and I enter it in the paper log when I'm home again.

 

Use a small paper log. I'm using the Jeppesen Professional Pilot log at the moment, and as I said, this one has taken nearly 11 years to fill up. Actually coming up on twelve now, I think. A smaller logbook fills up more quickly, and doesn't wear out like a big one does. A small one that's filled in a year or two can get dropped in the safe or where ever you choose to keep your logs, and you're done. You can take it out now and again and look over it, but it's not likely to get coffee stains, torn binding, wear marks, nicks, and dings from the multiple moves that being an aviator incurs, from getting tossed here or there, or just the normal wear and tear that takes place over the years. Smaller logbooks are probably the wiser choice, unless you're doing a LOT of flying.

 

Put pictures in your logs. This won't prevent them from being stolen, but my logbooks are more than records of my flying; they're scrapbooks. I've got photographs, business cards, stickers, temporary pilot certificates, and all my medicals glued inside. They represent a substantial part of my life, and pictures of different aircraft, locations, or jobs are in there. The current one has several pages just of medicals glued in the back of the book, as well as government OAS cards and other things pertinent to the job. They don't need to be there, but it keeps everything together and in order. Many years ago I was looking at a little homebuilt biplane at a rural airport, and commented that if I put it in my log, nobody would know what it was. A local pilot suggested snapping a picture and gluing that in the log. That way, he said, anyone who was curious could see it for themselves. I've pasted in a picture or two year and there every since. Same for my parachute logs.

 

Leave the logbook at home. Unless you're a student pilot who needs to have it along, don't bring the logbook with you unless you are going to a job interview. Otherwise, put it in a small safe or some other secure place at home. Mine aren't very secure; they're on the bookshelf, but that's okay, too. Keep in mind that you've got a substantial investment in your logs; treat them accordingly.

 

When you go for a new certificate or rating, try to fill out the flight time on the Form 8710 as accurately as possible. If your logbook is stolen or destroyed, you can refer back to a copy of the 8710 as a partial record of your flight time as of the date you filled in the form. This can be useful as evidence in reconstructing your logs and flight times. Keep your copy of the 8710 in a safe place. If you do lose your logs, get a certified statement that they're lost and being reconstructed, and include a few details about exactly what happened (fire, theft, etc). Then start building off what you do have, and keep the certified copy and your 8710's and other documents handy. This is made considerably easier if you have photocopies, a computerized log, a second set of logbooks, or other means to help recreate what has been lost.