Electronic logbooks and industry standards
 

I've been a pilot for quite a few years but have only recently been able to really make an attempt at a professional flying career.

My logbook was a recreational item for a long time that traveled the world in backpacks and has moved countless times, and even seen long storage times on deployments. A decade of shoddy CFIs at non-professionally oriented schools, notes pages, endorsements and other types of stuff mean that I really need to get my logbook in professional working order.

The best solution I see, and I'm open to other solutions, is going electronic, or keeping a parallel electronic logbook. In the process, an audit will work itself out and I'll have something immaculate to present.

What is the most accepted electronic logbook format or brand?:confused: Are some looked upon as more or less professional than others?

Do people care if that's the only thing you bring? I'd like to avoid them seeing my logbook. There's a lot of old school talk about these things and logbook standards, but not many regs. Either way, I'd like to hear as many opinions and ideas as possible.

I'm not short on hours or mistakes in my logbook. There's probably a coffee stain or dead bug or two.

Not with a ten foot pole, I see.

I don't think it has much to do with a 10 ft pole, but I searched the word 'Electronic' in titles only and came up with 3 pages of threads, most which had to do with your particular question.
I think some reading of those previous threads will provide you the answer/guidance you are looking for regarding electronic logbooks.

Johnny, if you are using a Mac, I would recommend LogTen Pro. I have been using it since 2010, fairly easy to use, and their customer service is top notch. You can sync it with your phone (if you have an iPhone that is), and can practically simple use that to log your hours soon after a flight. And in this age of Cloud computing, your hours will be waiting for you on your computer once you have logged them on your phone. I have shown an FAA inspector my phone logbook once, and he seemed to be might impressed, you can show him whatever he asks for with just a few screen taps.

Of course when I went for a checkride, I took along the paper logbook as well, and the examiner mainly focused on the traditional log. Another good thing with LogTen is that if you do want to go apply to an airline someday, you could print out your logbook in any format you desire. Like you can print it out to exactly match the green Jeppessen logbook or ones to abide by certain international civil aviation boards.

It may be on the slightly pricier side, but I bet you would spend more money to rent out an aircraft today, so its a good investment to keep a track of all your flights. But considering how many hours you say you have, I am sorry but it will be a pain in the a to log them all! Hope I answered at least some of your questions!

Yup! thanks.

I chose logbook pro for a few reasons. It may be harder to print something worthwhile, we'll see.

So much of this 121 world can't be known until someone tells you. I was really wondering if there was an industry standard for this.

Yeah, it will be a pain, I've been at it part time for a few days. It's okay, most of my hours are worthless anyway. ;)

I have a computerized logbook, but it's really just somewhere to put notes when in the field; it gets entered on paper when home.

Take the coffee-stained, dog-earned, spine-broke worn-out logbook to the interview.

I'd much rather see an authentic used logbook than a showpiece. Two of my own logbooks eventually fell apart, and had to be rebound. I have all my old medicals glued inside, along with pictures of aircraft I've flown and places I've gone, business cards, and momentos. Great for conversation during interviews. Great for memories, too, because that's all the logbooks are really worth.