Logbooks for regional interviews
 

Folks-

Just a couple questions on logbook etiquette for an interview with a regional carrier.

First off, a few months back I decided to go all electronic and solely use Flight Log Pro for logging. I've backlogged all of my flights into it and love all the features it offers. If I print off the entire thing, laminate, put in 3-ring binder, make it look nice, etc, would that be deemed acceptable? Obviously it does not have CFI signatures for dual received, but by virtue of the fact that I have the certificates I do, I figured that wouldn't be a problem. Has anyone gone with only computerized printouts? I'd really like to avoid having to go back and log hundreds of hours by hand that I already have in the computer.

Second, for the flights where I was acting as an instructor, in general all I have in the remarks section is the initials of my student. If something more noteworthy was given, I added it (signoff, BFR, etc) but the majority of flights just have initials in the remarks. Is this frowned upon? Will this present issues at an interview? I don't know how I could go back at this point and fill all of that out.

Any direction that could be provided would be greatly appreciated. Also, please note that I am not asking with regards to any specific interview, just in general for the future.

Thanks,

I could give you my opinion (sounds good to me!), but the best advice is to call the recruiting department of the airline you are interviewing and ask them.

Well that's the thing.. I don't have any interviews set up to even be able to ask. But when the time comes to actually interview, I'd like to avoid getting caught with my pants down. Thanks for your input, though!

If your computer logbook is incomplete (doesn't have endorsements, signoffs, etc) bring your paper logbook too. They probably say they want you to have "all logbooks"... that means everything. Unless your logbook has REPLACED everything in another, you still need it.

Okay, good enough in terms of endorsements, etc. but would the 12+ months I have in the electronic version only be deemed acceptable?

Your best bet is to ask the airline when they call. There really is no need to worry since they check your times the first day of class anyways. The interview is just formality. Plus I don't think I've ever been asked to show my log book during an interview anyways, you'd have to be pretty stupid to falsify your experience and I think they know that.:eek:

I am in the same situation. I have five paper logs and four years of electronic books. For my last two interviews, I brought the paper logs and the electronic print out (it included the carry forward of the paper logs). In both cases, the panels had no problem with my logs, and I got offers. Actually, I think they really liked the summary page I had as the cover sheet to the print out... all the totals were there. And my software let me put my flight time into some silly/fun formats: I included that I have been airborne for 9 months and distance traveled is equal to going to the moon and back. At least one guy got a kick out of that.

And with the exception of one or two corporate interviews, they went over my logs with a fine tooth comb and I have had probably 20-30 interviews.

Just be able to justify everything. Use common sense.

Some airlines will verify your endorsements. I know people that check to see if you have been endorsed more than once(for same license) to see if you have failed a check ride. This is a good way to catch if you have lied.

I would bring all hard copies and make sure your times all add up. If they dont add up be prepared to explain why.

Don't beat yourself up over it. I've had multiple regional interviews. Each company is a little different. My first employer collected the logbooks at the beginning of the day and scrutinized them all day long. They were returned to us at the end of the day. At other interviews, they took a quick glance, shut the book, and started asking other questions. As others have said, just make sure it's as neat, organized, and legible as possible. Part of the good 'first impression' thing.

My old logbook was water damaged, so I've gone 100% electronic. If I wanted to I could cut all of the endorsements out of the back, but I haven't, and don't plan to.

Just a word of advice, I'd pass on the three ring binder and laminated pages--that just screams tacky and sloppy. Invest in a nice binder and some quality logbook paper. Yes, it's going to set you back about $150. However, if I was part of a hiring board and was handed a binder that someone picked up at Staples, I'd be inclined to lump them with the people that show up to interviews not wearing proper attire (i.e., no suit, etc).

Take that for whatever it's worth.

Yes, you will certainly need all of your endorsements, Flight Reviews, etc.

They will also want to see paper logbooks covering all of your training. As someone mentioned they want to read between the lines to spot checkride failures, etc.

The fact that you hold a cert, does not mean that employers will take that at face-value, there have been cases of fraud in the past. That's why pilots who lose their logbook are in such a world of hurt. It's the first logbook with all your training that's important. Once you are at an airline electronic records are fine for 121 flying.

Have done 2 121 interviews and only thing I was asked to give them was copies of last 2 pages. Would stay away from bringing a binder its a bit chincy. You want to stand out from the pack with other attritbutes.. Was one of four outta 17 who was offered the job. Guess it was cause I wore the same color shirt as the chief pilot and I like to hunt. More you talk about things outside of aviation the better. With a huge binder u might be walking into some crazy technical questions about exact flights since you seem to have everything well laid out. Could be wrong tho. Good Luck

I just interviewed and was hired by compass.

I use logbook pro and I printed off the entire thing front and back on "jeppesen green" card stock and took it to office max and had it spiral bound. I have since taken it back and had them add pages. It is very easy.

The folks interviewing me commented on how much they liked the printed logbook. I did bring all off my old logbooks with all the signatures in them so they could verify. About a year ago I quit logging individual legs in my hand written logbook and started logging by the month just incase anyone ever has a problem with the printed book. The printed logbook gets logged by leg.

Like others have mentioned once you reach the airline level or ATP level there really isnt a need for a hand written logbook.

Okay, thanks for the feedback guys. Sounds like I am in good shape as I went to eletronic well after the last checkride I took (MEI). I'll plan to bring the paper logbooks showing all of my training, endorsements, checkrides, etc and then electronic covering everything after that. Thoughts?

Lost my very first logbook 20 years ago, and never had a problem with interviews or getting jobs including with legacy/major carriers.
If an employer is concern with a pilot failing a checkride or checkrides, they should check with the FAA.

Which program do you use? If you use logbook pro you can take it to FedexKinkos and for around $25-$30 they'll do it all for you. The software allows several different formats one of which is a logbook view. It will make it look exactly like your current logbook. Then just sign the bottom of each page.

After going electric I'll never go back. If I were interviewing someone I'd rather have a neatly printed book with accurate times then the one in my desk with gobs of whiteout and chicken scratch :D

Rick the last 8710 should cover everything needed if a book is lost. I had one stolen with a briefcase never had an issue just sent the FAA a request for my 8710, they sent it to me, golden after that.

Does anyone use Safelog? I have been using it for almost three years, but I have never printed it because there does not seem to be a PDF export feature for me to bring it to Kinko's

On one regional airline interview, the interviewers looked over my logbook printout with a fine-toothed comb. They asked questions about specific flights. The other interviewees had the same thing with their handwritten logbooks.

It turned out as a very positive review because their questions were on some of my flight remarks and I could tell the story of the flights from them. I got hired, so it couldn't have been too bad.

I use safelog and just print it out myself. Then I just take it to one of those business centers and have it bound.

I just wrote the name of the student I flew with in the remarks section. Never had a problem. I don't think their is anyway they could posiblt verify if you gave instruction 10 years ago on that specific flight. With all the free lancing flight instruction and the out of business FBO's they could never verify the validity of my log book. Has anyone actually had an airline go back to verify certain flights that were not check rides?

I started flying in the late seventies, and the validity of any type of logbook, pilot or otherwise was difficult to determine without some underlining documentation from somewhere. Pilot logbooks like any other logbook are filled out based on the honor system, it really doesn't become a question mark until a person has all this time in their logbooks, and have trouble doing something simple as holding the aircraft's heading, speed, and altitude while dealing with a component failure of some sort. A pilot's flying skills tells me more about their experience than their logbooks.

Logbook Pro, yes. How exactly did you do this? Are you actually printing out hard copies and bringing it to them, or are you saving it on a USB drive and bringing them the file?

For folks using printouts of electronic versions: How do you put yours together? Someone recommended going against the 3-ring binder route. Does getting it spiral bound seem to look the best? Do you get it printed on heavier weight paper?

Thanks for all of the input thus far.

LogBook Pro has an option to export to a PDF file. Just copy the file to a USB drive, email, or floppy (if you dare) and haul it on in to your favorite print shop. Last time I did it I just used the standard white paper as it's fairly high quality and spiral bound it with a nice clear plastic cover page.

For you Mac users I highly recommend LogTen Pro by coradine.com. It's pricey but blows LogBook Pro for Windows out of the water. For those that do have it, you can print to PDF by clicking on the PDF button on the Print screen. Pretty straight forward from there on out.

I got a cloth covered landscape binder and printed on heavy paper. As for those who say it does not look professional, I disagree. I have every type of column possible with detailed and legible comments. I even scanned in all my endorsements and certificates.

I got some checklists spiral bound and I think they came out really nice. I might try that with my logbook, but I really like my binder.

This topic has been beaten to death before, but whatever.

Here's what I use:

- LogTen Pro
- Old World Binder
- Blank Inserts for Old World Binders
- A laser printer that can collate.

Once I have a new page, I simply print that single page to PDF, head to Kinkos, print it off, and add it to the group. Haven't had an issue, and the results look great.

Thanks for the feedback. I decided to also go the Cirrus Elite route. Should be arriving middle of the week.