Stolen logbook(s)
 

Hi all,

Well, I find myself of being in the unfortunate position of having my logbooks stolen. I’m in training for a 121 regional currently and went home for the weekend and came back to find my room had been burglarized. My backpack containing my logbooks with the original signatures/endorsements as well as my 141 electronic logbooks were inside the backpack. There was no safe inside the room and with a quick trip home it made more sense to keep everything in one place in a locked, “secure” hotel room.

Now, the good news. I have been backing up my paper logbooks since day 1 with LogTen Pro and even made a spiral bound printout from FedEx before coming to training, which I still have. I also did IACRA about 2 weeks ago during my CFI renewal. Since I haven’t flown since June, my IACRA and digital logbook printout match to the decimal point. I’m hoping I may get the logbooks back but in case that doesn’t happen, what’s my next step? I have never failed an FAA checkride, is there a way to request my complete airman records to verify this? IACRA still has my old applications but too much time has passed and the view/print option isn’t appearing for most of them. I also plan on saving a copy of the police report to bring to future interviews. Any other ideas or suggestions?

You can re-create the logs, or at least document much of your flying, especially if you did it with a 141 school. You'll have former applications with your times listed on them, rental records, etc.

Your endorsements don't matter much, except for any endorsement showing training for currency, and only then until your next currency event. Other than that, simply start a new logbook; begin with your old times.

A useful practice today is to take a digital scan or simply a picture of each log page.

If you're got everything on a computerized log, then that's good enough. You can back build a paper log if you wish, or just make a note that your former was stolen, you have the computerized logs, and press on. If you've got documentation of what was in your other logs, it shouldn't be a problem.

Take care of your logs. Put them in a safe somewhere.

I had a similar situation except it was my car broken into. If you have your electronics logbook from flight 1, just reprint that. For print your IACRA applications and scan and maintain that police report. Every interview I brought, my electronic logbook print out, my IACRA app,I cations and my police report highlighting my stolen logbook. No issues.

Good idea getting the police report.

Better idea keeping photo backups, I did that the hard way with a zerox before ubiquitous digital cameras.

For the aspiring pilots out there: This has happened to several people I know, and I helped a couple rebuild books from school records. PITA. Thieves love flight bags and logbooks for some reason. If you absolutely must leave your book in the car, put it in the trunk or under the seat. Better yet to not leave it anywhere but the school or home... in a fireproof safe.

Today it will save you hassle. Back in the day it could easily cost you a job because before inter-webs and digital everything employers had to be careful about falsified credentials... a pilot without all of his original endorsements and training records was harder to adjudicate as authentic.

You at Mesa down in PHX at the double hotel that shall not be named?

Say again? Not that its relevant, but no. What has that got to do with this thread?

Are you asking if I fly for Mesa, or if I'm staying at a hotel in Mesa or Phoenix? No, to all. How is it relevant to lost logbooks?

Sorry was posting from my phone and must have hit the wrong post to quote. Was for the op. I have a friend who is down in PHX doing training with Mesa and wondered if the op was in the same class. I’ll repost to the Op.

There must be a black underground market for logbooks somewhere.

I just saw an old M*A*S*H rerun. A goat ate the payroll bag while everyone was in OR. That is my story and I am sticking to it.