Just adding my personal routine. I use LogTen Mobile on the iPhone. After each leg I put it in my phone, then sync it to my laptop at the end of each trip. Then once I fill up a page in my log I'll print it out and add it to my paper logbook, which is a leather binder containing a printout of the digital logbook. Then I'll email a copy of the digital version to my gmail account. If my computer ever crashes I can retrieve the backup. If that doesn't work I have the printout.

The binder with the printouts looks really nice and I've been to a few interviews with it, even an FAA checkride. I also carry the original handwritten logs that I kept before going digital. Never been asked to show them and have yet to be turned down for a job (knocking on wood

Going digital has been one of the best choices I've made. Much much easier, much less risk of losing the information (as long as you are strict on backing it up), and once you put the information in, it is a lot less work keeping it up to date.

 

If you use a Mac, LogTen Pro is the best. I also use the iPhone version and then sync with my iMac at home or with my Macbook on the road. I keep my LTP in dropbox.com so no matter which I sync with, all three are current.

 

I use LogbookPro and like it but when it comes time to print my log, I don't know how to pick a format that will look good to a potential employer. Does anyone have a preference? Do you place it a leather binder or present attached to a resume ?

 

Dont worry about it.

Nobody I ever met gives a damn about the presentation of your logbook beyond basic neatness. Dont worry about adding each leg daily and synching it up with 14 other devices and printing it out and putting it in nice leather binders....

Just be able to back up what you present with knowledge. Be honest.

Yes, have a presentable logbook in case you are asked for it, but by FAR concern yourself more with your interview skills/personality. Have a life, be an individual. Don't leave being a cookie-cutter pilot.

Don't attach anything to your resume unless asked.

Good Luck.

 

If one was presenting an electronic log book to a future employer (excel spread sheet), how would you recommend presenting endorsements (complex, high power, high altitude, etc)? Photo copy from the paper logbook and attach to packet?

 

APC has an Excel-based logbook that works fine (Electronic Logbook II), I recently started using it when my own files got lost (please don't ask about that). LogTen Pro is Mac-only. Excel is a Microsoft product that goes with MS computers and MS Office. If you have experience with Excel I would say use it, otherwise you are really dependent on logbook software suppliers like LogTen, and frankly I am glad I am not using the latter based on cost & fuss.

APC electronic logbooks

 

Ok...thank you. I already have an excel version going. I think it was one called "Cheap Log Book" that was available back in 2008ish. I was going through ratings very fast; so I added columns that supported the online application. It has been great.

I was just backfilling my paper log book to get it caught up when I notices several errors. After writing over them darker with ink, it doesn't look very professional (this book is 0-950 hrs). I will get this one corrected and start another paper log book for 950-1500+.

The pure computer log book looks much more presentable. I was wondering how you carry over the endorsements from your paper logbook. Just make a copy of endorsement pages and attach to the back of an excel printout?

 

Paper logs are always the norm with low time pilots. The electronic logs will handle high frequency flying, but are not the norm for student pilot logging. To keep the paper log up with the events as a pro, try condensing a multi-leg day into a single line on paper using multiple stops. The way I have handled high volume flying is to take a cell phone picture of the trip report as it happens on the line, since you have to submit the trip report anyway, then transfer the cell phone pictures to your paper logbook when you have the time. Later update your electronic logbook as a final effort to track date sensitive things, such as approaches and landings, because electronic logs are very effective for tracking and computing currency. As a final note, back up your electronic logs somewhere and occasionally scan your paper logs and upload them somewhere safe as well (Google Drive for example). Above when I said I lost some logs, I was only referring to a flash-drive based set of current electronic logs. I have always kept multiple sets of logs so as to defeat the loss of any one form. I found that system to be highly useful when my two backup flash drives were stolen recently. I still had the paper logs, uploaded electronic logs, and cloud-based scans of all paper logs- no sweat.

 

This is the best way to go for a hard-copy logbook:

Product Information | Professional Pilot Logbook - JeppDirect

 

I made high quality color scans of the various endorsements, arranged them chronologically in a Word document, then placed them in their own "Endorsements" section in the printed version of my electronic logbook. Looks pretty nice.