Choosing a digital logbook
 

Does anyone have a preference for a specific digital logbook? I’ve been using an app called PilotLog which is free and seems good enough for now but I know there are probably better ones out there. I’ve read some of the other threads that talk about logbooks already but couldn’t find anything concrete.

I don't think you'll ever find anything concrete. You'll get a lot of differing opinions from each of us. I personally use Log Ten Pro and been very happy with it, so I don't plan on changing. Others may disagree, but it gives me everything I need. Good luck on the search!

Logbook Pro generates a report that exactly matches the AirlineApps flight time format. That's very helpful for monthly updates, which is what the legacies like to see.

Excel, backed up in the cloud. Free. Customizable. I would never pay for a logbook, especially one with a subscription. Kept all my army and civilian stuff just fine over the last 12 years.

When you go to interview for an airline and they ask for a logbook do you just pull up the app on your iPad and show them what it says? Or is there a specific format used.

You print out whatever you have if you have a digital logbook. For army time, your 759 is sufficient...no logbook needed. If you have it in a logbook with civilian stuff, that’s fine too. Digital logbook programs have various printout options for various things (pilot credentials, airline apps, interviews, etc.). My excel sheet prints out a report showing total time by aircraft in a summary sheet, as well as leg by leg entries. It doesn’t really matter so long as it’s accurate and looks professional. At JetBlue I saw nice printed out and bound logbooks, a whole bunch of little pocket logbooks clumped together, and everything in between. Just make it look nice and organized and you’ll be fine.

That is the best advice. Whichever option you choose just make it look good. For my interviews I printed my entire logbook (mil and civ time) on nice paper and put it in a leather logbook binder I picked up online. You could easily do the same with an excel document if you go that route.

I also brought in my military flight time folder as an original source document just in case, but they never asked for it at any of my interviews.

Excel is an option if you're frugal. You'll need to customize reports to match various airline app formats, as well something to generate a nice printout when the time comes.

Fixed it for you. Sometimes I had nothing else to do on my regional overnights, so I nerded out.

And with the online app formats, so long as you have a breakdown of time by type (easily done with excel), it was fairly easy. The formulas were pretty easy to make various totals to assist with pilotcredentials and airlineapps, and one off weird totals like JetBlue's "EFIS" time.

Ask 100 pilots you’ll get 110 answers on which logbook is the best. Main options are to either: A) Pay a monthly fee for a premium program like Log Ten Pro, Logbook Pro, ForeFlight, etc; B) One time fee for a program like mccPilotLog; C) Excel (or paper)... free and can be customized to infinity and beyond depending on your level of nerdilization.

I started paper, then excel then finally paid the $70ish one time fee for mccPilotLog and it works great for me. Pretty much all the electronic ones have a way to print out nice logbook pages for an interview. There’s plenty of comparisons out there on the interwebbing so I’d recommend doing a little research. Good luck!