Question re: Validity of Logged Hours
#11
Another way to look at it would be; what if you owned your own 152, kept it at an uncontrolled field, and had the funds to put gas in it for as much as you wanted to fly. You could fly all day every day as long as you could afford the gas. There would be no real way to verify this, but it would certainly be legitimate. I'm sure there have been plenty of guys buy an airplane to build flight time, and there was no "paper trail" other than their pilot logbook.
#12
That makes a lot of sense. Thank you very much for the input.
However, I still do want to protect myself because i do get a lot of hours everyday (between 5-12hrs/day 5-6 days/week from instructing and flying with a friend) and if the FAA EVER think that i got too many hours and suspects fraud, i need to find a way to prove its validity.
PLUS i am going to be interviewing with a regional in 2-3 months, and i heard they do review the last 90 days of the logbook which is right now.
However, I still do want to protect myself because i do get a lot of hours everyday (between 5-12hrs/day 5-6 days/week from instructing and flying with a friend) and if the FAA EVER think that i got too many hours and suspects fraud, i need to find a way to prove its validity.
PLUS i am going to be interviewing with a regional in 2-3 months, and i heard they do review the last 90 days of the logbook which is right now.
#13
Disinterested Third Party
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 6,758
Likes: 74
No, you don't.
The regional will review your logbook, but that does NOT mean that the company will be calling the FAA, former owners, former operators, former students, former rental facilities, et al, to ask if your cited flight time is real. They don't do that.
The person who reviews your logbook may look to see if the time in your log is what you've advertised on your job application and resume, and the person reviewing your log will look in general to see if the time looks correct, perhaps note what kind of variety your background holds, and will move on.
If you've got a few hours in a friends airplane, surrounded by many more hours of instructing, nobody cares about the time you flew in your friends airplane.
Nobody is going to check, or ask you to prove it, either.
The person who reviews your logbook may look to see if the time in your log is what you've advertised on your job application and resume, and the person reviewing your log will look in general to see if the time looks correct, perhaps note what kind of variety your background holds, and will move on.
If you've got a few hours in a friends airplane, surrounded by many more hours of instructing, nobody cares about the time you flew in your friends airplane.
Nobody is going to check, or ask you to prove it, either.
#15
Heck, the government was eventually able to find "lost IRS emails" so they shouldn't have a problem finding filed flight plans!
Last edited by 155mm; 03-14-2015 at 06:58 AM.
#16
Prime Minister/Moderator

Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 44,870
Likes: 667
From: Engines Turn or People Swim
Regionals will hire anyone with a pulse these days...just make sure you have that.
It is very much in your own best interest to chill out.
#17
Validity and proof are two different concepts. The initial ATP applicant undergoes a logbook review by the examiner prior to the checkride to see if all the requirements are met "validity". I never saw one ask for "proof" such as maintenance logs, etc. Of course it may happen, I just haven't seen it!
Airlines are interviewing applicants who are "close to the requirements" and giving them class dates with the anticipation they will meet the requirements before their hire date. The temptation and potential to falsify logbooks would be a concern to me if I was an ATP examiner and the potential to review the pilot logbooks with a fine tooth comb increases. Especially, if there was 100 hours logged in the past two to three weeks. Is flying that many hours in such a short time doable? Of course! My suggestion was to simply file a flight plan for added "validity".
Airlines are interviewing applicants who are "close to the requirements" and giving them class dates with the anticipation they will meet the requirements before their hire date. The temptation and potential to falsify logbooks would be a concern to me if I was an ATP examiner and the potential to review the pilot logbooks with a fine tooth comb increases. Especially, if there was 100 hours logged in the past two to three weeks. Is flying that many hours in such a short time doable? Of course! My suggestion was to simply file a flight plan for added "validity".
Last edited by 155mm; 03-15-2015 at 06:49 AM.
#19
Disinterested Third Party
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 6,758
Likes: 74
Validity and proof are two different concepts. The initial ATP applicant undergoes a logbook review by the examiner prior to the checkride to see if all the requirements are met "validity". I never saw one ask for "proof" such as maintenance logs, etc. Of course it may happen, I just haven't seen it!
#20
Line Holder
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
It used to be that when obtaining the FAA signoff to take the written, the logbook was thoroughly reviewed, and not uncommonly the FAA did make contact with owners or operators and spot checked to verify the times. When it was required, the signoff to take the written was significant because it was a sort of stamp of approval showing that the log and the time had been vetted.
Did the FAA stop doing this because they didn't want to be liable in case of an accident or some sort?
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