Welcome Guest. Sign in or Signup

4 Answers

Digital logbooks during primary training

Asked by: 3796 views , , , , , , ,
Flight Instructor, Student Pilot

Since AskACFI is sponsored by Dauntless Aviation, I want to ask whether digital logbooks are commonly used during flight training? What are the primary benefits and/or limitations of digital logbooks experienced by CFIs and DPEs? Would you recommend a primary student to use a digital logbook?

Thanks!

Antoni 

Ace Any FAA Written Test!
Actual FAA Questions / Free Lifetime Updates
The best explanations in the business
Fast, efficient study.
Pass Your Checkride With Confidence!
FAA Practical Test prep that reflects actual checkrides.
Any checkride: Airplane, Helicopter, Glider, etc.
Written and maintained by actual pilot examiners and master CFIs.
The World's Most Trusted eLogbook
Be Organized, Current, Professional, and Safe.
Highly customizable - for student pilots through pros.
Free Transition Service for users of other eLogs.
Our sincere thanks to pilots such as yourself who support AskACFI while helping themselves by using the awesome PC, Mac, iPhone/iPad, and Android aviation apps of our sponsors.

4 Answers



  1. Nascr1Arrival on Mar 23, 2016

    I have never used any of the electronic log programs. What I know is that I have to be able to sign a logbook when I write your endorsements. My previous flight school made our students buy a normal logbook so we could put our endorsements in it. The whole point of the programs is to have a backup anyway right? It’s nice to start early with a program so you don’t have to go back and enter every flight, but I still need something I can sign.

    0 Votes Thumb up 0 Votes Thumb down 0 Votes

  2. Best Answer


    Mark Kolber on Mar 23, 2016

    There are a number of digital logbooks that claim compliance with the FAA guidelines set out in AC 20-76B. While there are others, the main issue is the authentication and verification of instructor signatures.

    This is a purely personal perspective so take it with the proverbial grain of salt:

    I have been using a digital logbook for about 20 years. Originally it was a backup for my paper log. About three years ago, my digital log became primary and I stopped recording my own flight in my paper logbook. But I continue to record flights with instructor endorsements in my paper logbook.

    Primary benefit is easy calculation, search, and loss prevention.

    Primary drawback is acceptability. Digital logs are gaining more and more acceptance but they are still new enough I can envision some issues with some Examiners (and perhaps even some CFIs).

    Bottom line is, the discussion you should be having on this subject is with =your= CFI.

    +1 Votes Thumb up 1 Votes Thumb down 0 Votes



  3. Mark Kolber on Mar 23, 2016

    LOL! 😀 If you look at Nascr1Arrival’s answer, you will see exactly what I mean about widespread acceptability and the druthers of examiners and instructors 🙂

    0 Votes Thumb up 0 Votes Thumb down 0 Votes



  4. Mark Kolber on Mar 23, 2016

    BTW, the AC reference should be AC 120-76B

    0 Votes Thumb up 0 Votes Thumb down 0 Votes


Answer Question

Our sincere thanks to all who contribute constructively to this forum in answering flight training questions. If you are a flight instructor or represent a flight school / FBO offering flight instruction, you are welcome to include links to your site and related contact information as it pertains to offering local flight instruction in a specific geographic area. Additionally, direct links to FAA and related official government sources of information are welcome. However we thank you for your understanding that links to other sites or text that may be construed as explicit or implicit advertising of other business, sites, or goods/services are not permitted even if such links nominally are relevant to the question asked.