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4 Answers

Minimum flight time in logbook

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Commercial Pilot, FAA Regulations, Flight Instructor, General Aviation, Private Pilot

Hello everyone, this is my first question here, and I had to write it here because I have not found any answers to this.

My question is about the minimum flight time that I can log in my logbook. I heard from a friend that any flights below 0.5 would not count toward my total flight time. For example, if I have 1500 hours total flight time, and one of the flights is 0.4 hour, my total should be 1499.6, and the airline would not count the 0.4-four flight.

I flew one day. We started the engine and did one lab in the pattern, but the weather suddenly changed so bad, so we ended up canceling the flight with only 0.4 flight time. That is why I am being curious about it:)

I appreciate any help. 

Thank you,

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4 Answers



  1. Bryan on Nov 28, 2022

    There is no minimum specified in the regulations. 61.51(b) says what logbook entries have to have–a date, total flight time, locations, type and ID of aircraft, and the name of the safety pilot if required. There are a few more details to it but the word “minimum” does not even appear in that section of the regulations.

    Having said that, if you have a ton of super short flights, you may get asked about it by a DPE or a hiring panel because it is a little strange to have a 0.2 flight. But that’s the same as anything else–if you’ve logged accurately and truthfully, it should be easy to explain the few outliers.

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  2. Best Answer


    Russ Roslewski on Nov 28, 2022

    I’d ask your friend to show you where in the regulations he or she found that. At least in the U.S., there is no minimum flight time or “rounding down” or anything like that. I just checked, I have 68 flights in my logbook that are 0.4 hours or less. Some of these are just like yours, also many of them are just repositioning the airplane from one airport to another just a few miles away, or a post-maintenance check flight, or something like that. But they’re all legitimate. Heck, in many ways a short flight can be more difficult than a longer flight, since you’re busy the whole time.

    I do agree with Bryan that if you have a LOT of short flights like that in your logbook, and especially if they are all in a row, it might cause the examiner or hiring official to comment on it, but as long as they are legitimate flights (meaning you did actually leave the ground), there’s no reason to be worried.

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  3. LTCTerry on Nov 30, 2022

    I have hundreds of 0.1 flights in my logbook as a glider instructor. Each trip around the pattern is a separate flight.

    I just interviewed with Endeavor and they did not care one bit.

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  4. Mark Kolber on Nov 30, 2022

    I really shouldn\’t be, but am constantly amazed at the \”authoritative\” nonsense people come up with. This is a new one. As Russ said, ask for an FAA reference.

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