Digital Logbook
 

I have been doing some research on digital logbooks and was hoping I could get some input from people that have used them on here. The company I fly for uses SABRE /FLICA so being able to work well with that is a big plus.

I searched on here and some other forums and the 3 I keep seeing mentioned are;
Mcc Pilot Log mccPILOTLOG
Logbook Pro Logbook Pro and APDL FAR 117 Airline Pilot Flight Log Software for iPhone, iPod, iPad, Windows, Mac, iOS, Apple, Android, Kindle Fire, and Nook
LogTen Pro X LogTen Pro X ? Pilot logbook for iPhone, iPad and Mac

What is you experience with these?
Mcc Pilot Log seems good, I like the one time fee but after downloading the basic version the functionality seems a bit odd. I guess it would work well once it's configured properly but I'm having trouble trying to get it to do what I want.

LogTen Pro seems really slick but I only have a PC and not a Mac.

Logbook Pro is hard to get a feel for, their website isn't very informative and there isn't a trial version to get a feel with.

I was hoping someone here knew of something that just plain works well and is simple. If the guy that made FC View made a logbook program that would be exactly what I want.

Been a LogbookPro customer for 15+ years and have been happy.

I'd look again on their website. They do have a trial version for their desktop program. It's worth 50 entries.

I use ZuluLog and I've had no complaints yet.

Customer service is absolutely superb.

I bought Log ten Pro 2 years ago for $90. They came out with a new app this year that is a subscription service, and stopped updating my version of the software. It still works, but crashes often and is more buggy.

They are completely gouging their customer base, I am going to speak with my feet. I'm not going to keep paying them more and more every year.

I understand what you're saying but all the big players in this small segment of app development are going, if not already there, to subscription-based models.


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Yes I get that, I was fine paying 139 for 3 years. The new and improved subscription service is 79.99 a year! Almost double in price over 3 years.

Dang! I didn't know it went up that much.


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Digital Logbook
 

That's what I am disappointed in, not the subscription service itself but the amount in which they raised the price. I fully understand app development isn't free, nor cheap. I just think they are starting to get out of hand with their pricing.

I'm probably stating the obvious, but it could be because they see an increased demand due to the hiring at all levels right now. They also know it's very difficult to switch logbooks if you go elsewhere. That's why I've stayed with LBP.


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Most logbooks will import other logbooks fairly easy now or at least MCC does.

Been using log book pro for 8 years. I have it running on boot camp on my Mac Book Pro on a Windows 8 partition. That's all that runs over there. I believe it has the ability import directly from sabre. I have been using them for 9 years and have been very happy.

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Thanks, it just seems like all the programs have compromises.
It really is a tough choice. I've been playing with Mcc Pilot Log and it looks good, maybe I'm just not that tech savvy but so far it's been a pain to configure.

I'll have to check out the free trial of Logbook pro

Hey man, PM me and we'll talk about your issues. I only started using mcclogbook two weeks ago and was able put over 2000 hours and 13 years of flying in there in one week, then spend the second week fine tuning/learning more about the program.

I don't much about the other programs, with one exception; they don't remotely offer the number of reports, currency trackers, or logbook printouts possible through the mccpilot program.

Also, it's usable on Mac, Android, iPhone, Windows, etc and it's ask that one time fee for the enterprise edition, which is WELL worth the investment.

I'm not calling you out, just honestly curious...what specifically can MCC do that LBR or LTP can't? Admittedly I didn't play with it a lot, but I did fool around with MCC for for a little bit and I didn't honestly see a reason to switch.

Sell me on it!

Also are there any good programs for tracking expenses on the road?

I've been using an excel spreadsheet that was designed for expense reports but surely there is a better option.

Back when I had a business my business AMEX card had a free function on the mobile app where you could take a picture of the receipt after making a purchase and it would automatically link it to the charge on the card. It was absolutely awesome for documenting expenses.

If you own apple, then from ALMOST everything I've heard ltp is great. The below is the exception. I don't own a single apple device, nor do I use software that's proprietary (I'm a tech guy, so I'm just not diem with that type of thing.)

The additional problem with LTP, and these aren't my words, but those of a female pilot in my company......

She said LTP was the best she had ever used, but between 2011-2014 they charged her over $400 for upgrades to their software, not to mention that the last charge came with a note that they were discontinuing support of all previous versions (that she had purchased 5 months prior) if the new purchase wasn't made.

They have over 300 airlines mcc is paired to, meaning you can download your scheduled pairings/schedule aka, it'll literally log your time for you.

So on your phone, when you're due to fly, it pulls up the appropriate notams, wx, etc for all the places I'm flying to/through.

Going through training? As soon as you've passed that check/qualification ride, have the ip/cfi/cfii sign your phone/digital log entry.

It also tracks per diem and other travel expenditures.

Reports as broad or specific as you want. Case in point of a search I did, just cause...all ME RW flights over 25NM on Tuesdays of odd months for 2012-2015 (obviously unnecessary, but to prove the power of the software, and I'm sure you could figure some search formats that would be beneficial.)

These are the reasons that I'm an mccpilot guy.

Tracking expenses? What expenses? You get M&IE for your food and van driver tips, and usually the company pays you less M&IE than the IRS allows ($63 per day this year flat rate) so you can get the difference back on your taxes (maybe), and the company provides everything else.

Other than uniforms for a new hire, and maybe a headset, what expenses do you plan to track?

Military flyers use it all the time on cross country trips. Our per diem works a little different. Aside from that, I have no idea how it works for civil aviators. Maybe if they're going cross country. I know it has fuel cost in there too

121 pilots pay for nothing on trips, for the most part (one exception is starting a trip somewhere besides your domicile, which my company doesn't do, but I know some do).

You non-rev to work for free, your hotels are free, your van rides are free, you get M&IE every hour you are out of domicile. You cannot claim lodging expenses, van tips, food, because it's all either paid for by the company, or covered by M&IE.

Ah okay, I was under the Impression I could write off an additional portion of the meals and van driver tips. (Yes I know I'm cheap)

That does sound pretty good.

Sorry, but no. And few are cheaper than I am. ;)

M&IE, by it's very definition, includes Meals and Incidental Expenses (such as van driver tips), so you cannot claim tips as a deduction on your taxes, in spite of what EZ Perdiem may tell you. In fact, the IRS tells you clearly that you can only claim tips towards something you are paying for (if you pay for a taxi and don't get reimbursed by the company, for example).

Personally, I never tip a driver, unless he/she goes above and beyond to help me. They get a paycheck just like we do. I've probably only tipped about $4 in the past year.

There are those who claim internet and cell phone costs, but personally, I shy away from that, even though it's legal. Why? Too much record keeping to keep it legal. If I pick up one single turn per year which credits 4 hours, I will make more money than all the cell phone and internet deductions combined will ever net me on taxes. Too easy.

Thanks, I appreciate it.
I just want to make sure I'm not giving the government any more than I absolutely have to.

Been using LogTen Pro X for a few years now and love it. Yes it's expensive but imo worth it. Real easy to use, syncs to a second device, and backs up to the cloud. Usually just log leg by leg as I go. Of course only works with Apple products. Read a while back they have no intent of creating a pc version.

You suck....

Actually, I don't. And I'll just stop there, though you left yourself wide open for comebacks.

Why should I tip someone who makes money for doing their job already? I don't get tips for flying people to other airports, yet I do so in a safe, swift manner. Do you tip the lady at the check out at the grocery store? Why not? Do you tip the dude behind the counter at the gas station? Why not?

I agree wholeheartedly. That's why I only pay the gubmint about 9% annually. What I DON'T do is claim things that are questionable or hard to prove if I get audited.

Speaking of saving money, do you have Excel on your computer? If so, I can hook you up with a logbook that you can use for free, and it calculates your per diem for you automatically. Hit me up via PM if interested.

This has become very common now for some reason. A person has a salary or hourly like I do, but I'm supposed to tip them for doing what they're already paid to do? Now I understand waiters, etc, because they only make like 2 and 3 bucks an hour that's intended to be supplemented by tips. But I have to agree somewhat with you on this subject.

It would obviously be a waste of my breath to try and explain it to you.

Actually servers make minimum wage before tips, which is likely close to what your van driver is getting.

No they do not, but let's not argue that here.

For me I made an app from AppSheet which feeds a form submission into a google sheet which then I can manipulate the data for my viewing pleasure. Makes it easy to log the time on the road with my phone.


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Your fingers don't breathe, they simply type. But if you are desiring to convince me to tip people who earn a living wage, then yes, it would be a waste of your time. If you are willing to part with your money and give it away to others, then so be it. I prefer to keep the money I earn. Wait staff being the exception, as mentioned above.

You are probably one of those people who errantly think they can tip and "get their money back" by claiming it on their taxes.

So do the other people I mentioned before, yet you failed to admit that you don't tip them. Why tip a van driver, but not a Walmart employee? Or your grocery stocker? Why be so choosy?

dude don't even bother. If someone thinks I'm less of a person because I refuse to engage in ridiculous social construct I really don't care. That's a person who's opinion is meaningless to me.

MCC syncs up to 10 devices. Has a phone app for almost all phones. Downloads all your trip info leg by leg. You will have to enter approaches, actual time and landings since it is unable to figure those out, but everything else is downloaded from the airline company server. It backs up to the cloud also.

And it is a one time fee that is not that expensive. I think its around $70 depending on the currency exchange rate.

The more I hear about Mcc, the more it sounds like it's the way to go.

What are you trying to get MCC to do that you can't get figured out?

I briefly played with it when I originally downloaded it. After spending a bit more time with it I think I have it figured out for the most part. Granted it's the only digital logbook I've messed with but it's pretty slick.

How important is a digital logbook now? Do employers prefer it? When you interview, do you normally take in your physical one and send them a digital copy, or do you even need your physical one any more at all?