I said "I don't care", not "I don't keep a logbook". There are plenty of records that exist to pick up on the log. My last CFI renewal in June. All the company records of my flying, etc. More than enough to get any job.

Put it in a safe and take it to all your interviews and checkrides. Congrats! I finished my first log book with a little over 800 hours, then bought a Jeppesen Professional Pilot Logbook and put over 2000 more in it before getting another. Haven't gone digital yet, but I do have copies of my first logbook, just in case, and about 3 pages worth every six months or so since then.

I still have all my logbooks. But concerning the first 1500 hours, is it true that your ATP certificate is enough to validate that flight time? Does your signed 8710 and subsequent issuance of an ATP license negate the need for the logbooks? Your first 1500 or so is adequately broken down on the 8710 and accepted by the FAA. So it seems to me that just keeping a copy of that 8710 in lieu of logbooks will suffice.

This makes sense to me. But I'm not sure and so I hold onto those early logbooks anyway. I can see where the logbooks would be important early on... employers may want to have a look in greater detail. But eventually, is there any good reason for me to be protecting those logbooks?

It depends on what type of outfit you apply for. Some you can get by with an 8710, but if you need a specific endorsement for a job, you'll probably have to bring in the logbook with that endorsement for their own records.

Yes, if you need a specific endorsement then you must show that endorsement. But you can show an endorsement without a logbook. For example, I can show that I am endorsed (qualified and current) on my particular aircraft without ever showing my logbook.

Yes, Yes, Yes! Save everything if you intend to make a career in aviation. As stated before you never know what will happen in this industry. After 26 years my airline failed and having all my log books and copys of my training records made getting my next job much easier.

TZ

I wish somebody would of told me this.
Once you get a good flying job update your logbook daily other wise you will try to figure out the tally the day before an interview and have it be a mess.
Also get a document writing template helps keep entries neat and uniform, you can get one from a police gear website.