Logbook Destroyed
Posted by MonolinkTV@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 39 comments
Hey guys, it happened - my logbook was recently destroyed due to a mistake on my part. I only have 63 hours, but those hours and the CFI signatures are needed to continue my training. I had scanned all of the pages (only 4 or 5), and they are neatly printed out with everything legible. I'm trying to figure out how to move forward because I cannot lose these hours and start over.
Fun_Egg_4617@reddit
This was my nightmare after not flying for a long time. After moving several times, my log book is lost forever. My prior CFI was kind enough to send me photos of his log book, and I printed them out. My CFI signed off on them, and I keep them with my log book at all times. I wasn’t able to recover all my solo time, but I have 40 hours of instruction I recovered.
Prestigious-Eye5441@reddit
I use Excelpilotlogbook.com and add a tab with all of the scans. It is awesome but works best in Excel. The Google Docs 8710 function isn’t great. It also tracks all of my costs. That said, I recently downloaded my flight myflightbook and it is very nice, too. Cannot believe it is free. My flight school pushes Log Ten, but it is expensive unless you are using it for 121. ForeFlight is good, but what happens if you find out that Garmin Pilot just launched SmartChart and you want to move to it?
CaptMcMooney@reddit
you said you "scanned" all the pages? what's the issue? grab a new logbook and keep it moving
HbrewHammrx2@reddit
You definitely want a free digital logbook. MyFlightBook is the absolute legend. You can make those entries and even submit digital signature requests that will automatically get entered once signed. You never need to worry about this happening again and technically your logbook is now with you wherever you go. Digital logbook is 100% a lifesaver.
davetheweeb@reddit
I can’t endorse this app enough. It even shows your rating progress which is such a game changer. Not to mention filtering your flights for the weird IACRA hours. Paper logbooks should be a thing of the past
Mid_Atlantic_Lad@reddit
Wait, really?! I need to look through more of that program. The only thing I wish they had (or at least I don't think they have it) is a separate total count of individual models of aircraft.
ahammerman01@reddit
You can sort your logbook in nearly any way. You can absolutely sort by individual aircraft models
Mid_Atlantic_Lad@reddit
I’ll have to take a look again. If it is there it isn’t obvious.
ahammerman01@reddit
Totals -> Search -> Sort by aircraft/tailnumbers. Pretty straightforward. If that’s not what you’re thinking let me know and I’ll pass on the feature request.
Mid_Atlantic_Lad@reddit
Yes, tail-number is very useful, but I mean more like an ability to filter in multiple ways, like models, C152, C172, multi engine, or even sub models like C-172M or S. Unfortunately it would require a lot of work on the MFB guy's end, as they'd have to create a database in a whole bunch of models and sub models.
ahammerman01@reddit
I’ll chat with Eric about it!
Mid_Atlantic_Lad@reddit
Wow, thank you! That's awesome to see engagement with the community. They might very well have this feature, I might just be blind.
Regardless, thank you.
ahammerman01@reddit
I know Eric the owner and he and MFB are AWESOME. Can’t second this enough.
Historical-Pin1069@reddit
How do you get the school to sign it if its a digital logbook?
HbrewHammrx2@reddit
You can also enter their email address and it just sends a link for them to click to sign.
Hour_Tour@reddit
It has a sign function. But also, I keep a digital AND physical logbook, do the signing in that (and take pictures of complete pages and signoffs)
Daa_pilot_diver@reddit
To add to this, you can recreate the entries from the scans you have then upload the scan as the signature. This is helpful if you don’t have access to the CFI to sign all those flights. You also don’t need to annoy a current CFI with 50+ entry signatures. But MyFlightBook made training so simple as far as the logbook went. Any time I had to fill out an IACRA application or fill out an insurance form, the digital logbook made it so simple.
digital_dyslexia@reddit
The best answer to this is to buy a new logbook and re write everything down, then have the CFI's sign it. You kept a record and those guys probably did too, so they should have no issue helping you on this
AmIaPilotYet@reddit
myflightbook.com is free. If you use foreflight, it has logbook feature too. If none of that works for you, how about a free spreadsheet. Why people insist on using paper to keep records in this day and age is beyond me.
That being said, reach out to your cfi. He most certainly has logged his time with you.
darkcanuck1@reddit
You can find pretty good excel spreadsheet logbooks that can be saved as a google document,I’ve been doing it that way in addition to paper logs for years.
n625RT@reddit
Pull receipts from your school. Pay for your CFIs lunch one day. Enter your hours back into an electronic log book and have him sign them. I suggest my flight book. Free and works great.
GaryMooreAustin@reddit
Those copies are just as valid as the original entry
autonym@reddit
The scans are all you need. Thanks to proper backups, you haven't lost anything. (An electronic logbook, also with backups, is probably far more convenient than a paper logbook.)
jim977654321@reddit
Scanned copies shouldn’t be a problem, but always run it by the DPE first so no surprises. To go one further 8710’s and medical applications are considered legal “bookmarks” on your time. If you have flight time prior to getting your Student certificate or medical you can request copies of your applications to help prove your times. But as others have said start an e-logbook with some kind of backup like the Cloud. When I started flying there was barely internet so all paper. By the time I went through my first furlough e-logs were just coming out and I had to input 5,000+ hours. Trust me, start an electronic logbook ASAP.
Kermit-de-frog1@reddit
Going forward, treat this like any other valuable that might be stolen/destroyed. I take photos of my logbook any time a page is completed, same with the engine and plane logs (for my plane) and save them both to a thumb drive and email them to myself and save in a “LOGS” folder in my email.
IDs, licenses, birth certificate , passport, Etc. same thing, thumb drive and email , saved to “identification”
I do the same thing with jewelry , watches, guns, etc. photos to include serial numbers , Thumb drive and email saved to “insurance”.
Should anything bad happen (like the other thread where the guys flight bag was stolen). You have a backup that you can access pretty much anywhere in the world, and you can supply serial numbers and pics to law enforcement if stolen or a fire occurs .
GoodKarmaLarma@reddit
If you can prove you flew the hours then you can reconstruct the logbook. My advice moving forward is to use a digital log. I recommend foreflight but there are some free options too
Purgent@reddit
Once I got to around 200 hours, I realized the nightmare I would be setting myself up for if I didn’t have a backup plan for a lost / destroyed logbook. I did / do the following:
Take photos of every completed logbook page, and back it up to three separate locations (two cloud storage locations, one on computer drive). This sounds like a lot of effort, but it takes all of 60 seconds.
Start an electronic logbook. It took me a few hours to configure and enter all flights at that point, but it was well worth the effort and I can easily pull all kinds of numbers / summaries from it.
Continue using both paper and e logbook together.
It is virtually impossible for me to lose track of any hours, ever, and is very very minimal added effort.
TobyADev@reddit
Did you have any old pictures of it?
Jwylde2@reddit
He scanned the pages
friendlylocaldpe@reddit
Sounds like it's time to upgrade to a digital logbook. Transfer all the details to a digital log, keep the old records since the signatures are still legible. Bring both to your checkride. Shouldn't be a problem.
CL60dude@reddit
Start a new logbook and make sure you replace your endorsements. I have been flying since 98 and my original logbook was stolen with my flightbag. I cannot get an interview with an airline because i do not have my original endorsements even though i have ATP 7000hrs and 9 type ratings
SparTim@reddit
African ICAO pilot here. Start an elogbook. Trust me. Normally they have a summary feature which helps. Print it out, store in a binder and when money permits you can look at getting a personalised one. (Something like this). Will save you so much headache.
Raccoon_Ratatouille@reddit
That’s fine, secure documentation via the flight school pay records, CFI and your scans, and save 2 copies of that. Transcribe it into your log, keep a copy of the records with your log at least while in training. I would also suggest writing a note to yourself to help remember what happened to explain in future interviews or dpe’s or flight schools.
Life will continue. Records get lost or destroyed and documenting it as thought as possible will help keep that credibility vs “idk I lost it, I think I had like 70 or 80 hours???”
doorbell2021@reddit
You should be able to have the CFI's sign in wet signature on the printouts that these are valid copies. Not necessary to reenter everything in a new logbook.
Make sure any endorsements (i.e. for solo flight) that were done on other (back pages) of the logbook are redone or re-signed as well.
x4457@reddit
Have your CFIs/flight school help you reconstruct it from their records.
MonolinkTV@reddit (OP)
So my best course of action is to go find all 3 of them and just have them sign? I have all the hours and even a picture of all the signatures. I could cut them out and glue them at the end of each flight? I could even technically do that with the original logbook, as all the signatures are still intact, but the rest is just messed up.
DefundTheHOA_@reddit
lol do not cut and glue your logbook together like it’s an art class. Just have the CFI’s re-sign what you flew with them.
cficole@reddit
I wouldn't bother cutting and pasting. I'd enter the flights in a new logbook, and fold up the printouts and keep them inside the front cover of the logbook. In the meantime, it wouldn't hurt to ask the CFIs to sign the entries in the new logbook; then you wouldn't need the printouts.
As to depending on the printouts for a checkride, I'd ask your prospective DPE about it, if you can't get the CFI signatures.
As a CFI, I'd have no problem signing a reconstructed logbook for dual I'd given, as long as I could confirm it from my logbook and/or other training records.
rFlyingTower@reddit
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
Hey guys, it happened - my logbook was recently destroyed due to a mistake on my part. I only have 63 hours, but those hours and the CFI signatures are needed to continue my training. I had scanned all of the pages (only 4 or 5), and they are neatly printed out with everything legible. I'm trying to figure out how to move forward because I cannot lose these hours and start over.
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