Airline pilots how do you log flights?
Posted by Aromatic-Ship6260@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 114 comments
I have both paper and electronic from the beginning. I am in a flying club and a Guard pilot about to start as a regional FO. Just curious what the best way to maintain them moving forward will be. Do you log every flight? How will the majors want to see this?
Any_Table_3591@reddit
Print out the flight log summary and rough math on top to figure out times. Not going anywhere from here but I have the logs need be
SavingsPirate4495@reddit
Retired now, but I exported the company’s logbook file into Excel csv spreadsheet, massaged the data into my Jepp style spreadsheet, saved that as a csv comma delimited file, then imported that data into Logbook Pro.
It sounds complicated, but it’s not. If you want to pay for the subscription, Logbook Pro has an app that imports your schedule to your device, and all you have to do is record your landing, any actual IFR, approach type, and night hours for each leg.
TristanwithaT@reddit
My airline has the option to export a csv file which I then import into MyFlightbook. No, I’m still not spending $100 a year for LogTen Pro when MFB does the same job for free.
notagreatpilot@reddit
Do logten users get a leg up in the interview?
myflightbook user
davr2x@reddit
Nope
a_provo_yakker@reddit
Is MFB fairly hands-off with the import? Can it import crew names and tail numbers? And does it have the ability to convert the times like for IFR, night, etc? Or do you just log the out and in times?
TristanwithaT@reddit
Yes, it imports crew names/employee numbers and tail numbers. The csv file gives times in local time so it will also automatically populate night as well. You have to put in your own IFR time
a_provo_yakker@reddit
Pretty decent. I don’t really care about IFR or night or any of the other breakdowns anymore but my current logbook does it anyway, so that’s been nice just for the gee whiz factor.
I am beyond fed up with my current logbook, download import has been broken for a long time, it won’t recognize any of the formats anymore that I try to import in, and the ACARS capture feature seems broken as well. I’ve been manually doing every leg every trip for a while now, out of spite, since I paid for a long term license.
I gave up hope they’re gonna ever fix it. I don’t really love the yearly sub like LogTen. And they’re not even the worst, someone in a comment mentioned some app that’s like $200 a year and that’s just insane.
notagreatpilot@reddit
Do crewmember names need to be in flight logs for interview?
a_provo_yakker@reddit
No. I just like to have it.
zkoolie@reddit
Not at the airlines yet, but this is exactly how I’ll do it when I’m there. I despise subscription models
Formulant@reddit
Google sheets
Airkoryo_@reddit
I am a flight attendant and I have a Google spreadsheet of every flight I have worked, in addition to a separate spreadsheet of every flight I have flown as pax.
Yes, I am on the spectrum.
boredsoimredditing@reddit
I log every flight leg by leg in excel using out/in times. I’m an excel nerd and built a cool spreadsheet that calculates great circle distance and some other features.
All my mil flying was added up in a separate sheet logged according to how each service I flew in logged it. And then I added single line entries for each mil air frame with all types of said flying into my master logbook.
I have a summary sheet that takes totals of every aircraft type flown, broken down by category and class, then conditions of flight, etc., with overall totals for each of those.
I had a paper logbook with some endorsements from my civilian flying 20+ years ago that I also transposed and took to my interviews for anyone who wanted to see it.
Now I still log everything line by line, flight by flight just in case. I also use it for annotating anything noteworthy about the flight (fume events, other maintenance events, checkrides I receive or give, instruction I give doing OE, etc.).
OrganicParamedic6606@reddit
Haven’t logged a single flight since I got to my “career” airline.
ItsReallyLebron@reddit
Why is that? Are these hours logged for you and you can just reference them? I always hear about guys no longer logging their time once they’re at the airlines
OrganicParamedic6606@reddit
Just don’t have a reason to care anymore. Haven’t referenced them in the decade+ I’ve been here
Noswad_12@reddit
There’s an assortment of reasons why you wouldn’t need to. Your airline will retain the data that you can request at any time. Maybe there’s a few odd cases where it’s not that easy but in general it’s that simple. Also once you get to the level of a “career” airline, you aren’t building time so it’s not as important to keep a personal logbook
Comfortable_Golf1350@reddit
Usually the airlines provide a form of logbook where you can track your flights, hours, fins flown, colleagues, etc. So if you ever want to log into your personal logbook, you can refer to that. A lot of people stop there and consider this as their logbook.
Also, if your job is the last job you ever gonna have until retirement, let’s say it’s not necessary to keep an updated logbook for a future job.
I do keep mine updated because I like to have a look once a year and look at my stats. But I could be 1-2 years before making a single log, or I can log once a month. It’s not a priority, so I do it when I have some spare time. My paper logbook is 4 years behind, but my Logten is pretty much updated. I like the physical book for the object and what it represents, but I might just go 100% electronic, depending on my motivation to write hundreds of lines!
CaptMcMooney@reddit
why not just keep the csv or log to excel, don't pay for anything
rayman3325@reddit
Upload csv file for my current trip to my online logbook and then update the times for my actual flights each leg. Not leaving my airline but it’s OCD at this point. PILOTLOG by crewlounge
Bubbly_Upstairs6160@reddit
Log every flight. Some stop after getting to a forever job. I keep logging electronically.
canuck791@reddit
I haven't logged a single flight since getting hired at a major.
eitilt@reddit
I think a majority of people would say LogTenPro.
LookoutBel0w@reddit
MyFlightbook is equally as common and is FREE
CrossBamboAtTen@reddit
To be fair, at the majors level of pay, LogTen might as well be free too without how inexpensive it is comparatively.
LookoutBel0w@reddit
You’re not a real pilot if you’re not cheap
CrossBamboAtTen@reddit
Yeah cause of all those cheap boats and cars and cheap divorces the legacy captains have.
eitilt@reddit
Free doesn’t move the needle for me when you’re taking about a multi million dollar job, I’d typically stick with a supported product.
That being said I’m a software engineer so I ended up compiling my own logbook, but if I had to choose I’d go LogTenPro
YugeWaterBottle@reddit
You're not a real airline pilot if free doesn't move the needle.
Affectionate_Aspect4@reddit
Apparently they're a software engineer? Lmao.
Gotta love the anyone can have any flair without vetting.
YugeWaterBottle@reddit
He probably is/was a software engineer.
I'm an aerospace engineer. That's my education. That was also my previous career. But now I'm an airline pilot. But I'm also still an aerospace engineer.
Affectionate_Aspect4@reddit
Just because you have X degree, it doesn't make you that thing.
I learned coding at 14-19, and I do not call my self a software engineer. My sisters 300lb 6ft 5 husband went to school for aerospace engineering, because he was too fat to fly, and that guy now holds an MBA and runs a family business which has nothing to do with AE, I'd be pissed if he called him self an AE based off degree and 2 years of entry slog.
IF you're an airline pilot, then that's what you are. I've been a Power line tree trimmer, deputy sheriff, website builder, accountant (degree), and a mechanic, while I also fly GA.. would be posh to introduce my self as a cop right lol.
eitilt@reddit
Bro relax, I have a degree, and worked in the field before and while I was flying, it is in fact possible to have more than one skill, and in the flying industry it’s incredibly important to have a back up.
knuckles53@reddit
Also, it’s like the guy forgot side hustles exist. You said you were a software engineer, I assumed that you were still working as an SE on the side. That was my assumption. This guy jumps immediately to some sort of weird “stolen valor” hill he wants to die on.
I’ve flown with practicing lawyers, active firefighters, brick masons, etc. This industry practically encourages supplemental careers and to get bent out of shape over how YOU chose to define yourself is … a take.
YugeWaterBottle@reddit
I can go apply for and get a job as an aerospace engineer anytime I want. You can't do that, because you're not an aerospace engineer. But I am.
Affectionate_Aspect4@reddit
Same as I can apply to be a cop, but since I'm not currently, then I'm not a cop.
Do you understand, or are you another larper?
YugeWaterBottle@reddit
Anyone can go become a cop. The barrier to entry is uh, rather low... I can go become a cop as easy as you can. You cannot become an aerospace engineer as easy as I can.
Affectionate_Aspect4@reddit
You aren't a cop, and I honestly highly doubt they would hire you. This isn't 2020 times, you think at a department with 10 slots, Ex military, etc.. they would hire you, with nothing to offer? Anyone can become an aerospace engineer, the mathematics are the only thing that cripple most engineer hopefuls, yet C's get degrees.. if my wife's obese husband could do it, I damn sure know I can LMAO.
YugeWaterBottle@reddit
You know what, you do sound like a cop.
Affectionate_Aspect4@reddit
And you sound like a reddit larper with pilot dreams lmao.
eitilt@reddit
I fly for the airlines, got my degree in electrical and software engineering
Affectionate_Aspect4@reddit
Alright, If you say so. I've realized most of reddit is around 40% larpers, 10% real, and the other 50% exaggerate.
eitilt@reddit
Yeah man, I get it. I really only keep up with software stuff because it’s been a hobby, but realistically also as a backup plan. Had to apply to a few non-flying jobs during COVID so kind of hammered home that I may need a backup plan one day.
Affectionate_Aspect4@reddit
Shoot good luck with software, unless you left with 5-10YOE. it's saturated to the moon as is most high paying careers, with plenty of hands to have raised for it.
eitilt@reddit
And getting worse! At the time it was a port in the storm with all of the remote work.
Affectionate_Aspect4@reddit
Mmm that damn remote work was stupid lmao, people "Who are affording all these homes in LCOL that we can't fathom? Is it doctors?" No, it's a Dink duo WFH dynamic, lmao.
eitilt@reddit
Free is great after you get hired!
akidwhocantreadgood@reddit
Free is great to get hired as well.
Just because you wasted money on an unnecessary subscription does not mean it is advisable for others to do so as well.
Source: received cjos from 6 airlines using myflightbook, including 2 legacy’s and 1 major
eitilt@reddit
I get your point and as my post states I didn’t waste my money on that subscription, but if I was unfamiliar with logbooks and applying I’d go with a product that has more commercial support and assistance with importing etc. Was just my 2 cents.
Natty_Dread_Lite@reddit
Based on your flair, I’m inclined to believe you
pandab34r@reddit
At some point it's easier to list what you AREN'T certified in
eitilt@reddit
Luck and timing!
TheMonkeyPickler@reddit
I wanted to fly c130s so badly but alas my colorvision prevented that. How were they to fly?
TheMeltingPointOfWax@reddit
It's a loud, rickety, finicky piece of trash that has maintenance issues every flight.
I miss her every day.
eitilt@reddit
Nailed it.
CrossBamboAtTen@reddit
I still log as normal even at my legacy. It’s really easy with FC View into LogTen. I also catch up on paper occasionally cause I’m a bit sentimental that way.
I log per day and aircraft. So if there was multiple flights in the same aircraft on the same day I put that on a single line and combine all the times.
Brian728@reddit
Foreflight. I think it’s fun still to log my stuff
BlowFish-w-o-Hootie@reddit
I think it is fun to write it down by hand in a paper logbook.. That’s just me.
TrentKama@reddit
MyFlightBook(free) which I import from Flight Crew View(paid) which imports from Flica. My airline just emails us very bare-bones spreadsheets of flight info every month so it's much easier with these tools to keep up to date.
Mike__O@reddit
I don't. My company does it for me. If I need it, I can pull their logs whenever I want.
justarandomguy07@reddit
Do you bother logging/tracking instrument time?
CarminSanDiego@reddit
Why would you need to?
YugeWaterBottle@reddit
Instrument time? What's that? I don't track approaches, landings, night, anything. None of that stuff matters at the airlines.
95% of flying is by reference to instruments. Even if it's VFR, you're flying the flight director.
BChips71@reddit
Incorrect. You're "watching" the flight director. ;)
Valid__Salad@reddit
V1, rotate, AP on. Not in the SOPs, kind of just technique.
UH60CW2@reddit
Airbus guy here
buriedupsidedown@reddit
That’s true but op’s a regional pilot and some airlines still ask for that, like American (off the top of my head).
MyPilotInterview@reddit
I suspect the use the 10% rule of thumb, and less if they’re flying long haul.
ljthefa@reddit
That's what I do unless I'm actually flying around in instrument conditions but that's so rare
Mike__O@reddit
No. Instrument, night, type of approach, etc are all irrelevant when you're flying for the airlines. Even if I were to leave and apply for a job at another airline you just show up with X number of pt121 hours and the airline you're applying for will figure it out.
rckid13@reddit
I'm weird and I like data. I still log all of my flights just so I have the data even though I'm hopefully already at the last job I will ever apply to. I use Logbook Pro. When I had airline interviews I printed and bound my Logbook Pro logbook up until the date of the interview. I last used a written paper logbook at around 250 hours. Everything past that point has been full electronic with occasional printouts.
blizzue@reddit
Logbook pro. For a long time at the regionals I used a little red trip logbook and then transcribed that to my digital logbook which helped me keep my records straight and the I would copy it into my paper logbook. Now I use logbook pro mobile and that syncs to my desktop and then I copy that to my paper logbook. I’m a weirdo and I like doing it this way. Most people only log electronically, if at all.
Aggravating_Fix_9965@reddit
Logbook pro I think was on the forefront of this very good and ease of use.
changgerz@reddit
When I was at a regional, I'd log it just like any other flight. You could go look at your month's flight times online and I'd guess the amount of instrument and know if it was night based on the schedule. I liked being able to just check my logbook for my total time (so I'd know when I was eligible for upgrade, and applying for majors) instead of having to email the company person for it every time. Also they only kept your times by the week or something weird like that, which I figured wouldn't look the best on apps.
Necessary_Topic_1656@reddit
The more detail you have - it makes it easier to fill innate blanks like the night landings as PIC and SIC on the 8710-1 FAA Type rating application.
YugeWaterBottle@reddit
You aren't required to fill any of that crap out if you're applying for a new type rating. No airline pilot is logging "night landings" lmao. That's not even a thing in 121.
Imaginary_Amoeba3461@reddit
My most recent company went a step further and told you specifically not to fill it out.
YugeWaterBottle@reddit
Yes. I've never filled out that part of an 8710 as an airline pilot. There is no need to put any hours on there.
Tony_Three_Pies@reddit
I log night landings. shrug
YugeWaterBottle@reddit
Sure, you can log night landings as gee whiz information if you want. Or, I guess it could be useful if you own a Baron or something.
DatBeigeBoy@reddit
ForeFlight. And I log every leg as soon as we block in.
Ok-Selection4206@reddit
I haven't put a single entry into my logbook since 2008...even then it was one line per month. Mar 2008 55hrs pic B767
Working_Football1586@reddit
Print out the company’s flight time log for myself
PaperCity1850@reddit
Right into myflightbook from the OOOI times after block in
mfsp2025@reddit
Flighty to track my flights. Then I export as .csv into LogTen Pro. It auto fills OOOI times as well as tail number and flight number. Takes maybe 2 mins of messing with the spreadsheet.
Love Flighty. I love seeing that I’ve lost 200 hours of my life to delays and that my company loves sending me to one specific airport lol
dogbreath67@reddit
I log paper logbook and N-number, just like the old days. Print the flight log page at the end of each day
ManagedSpeed340@reddit
I use logten pro and log: Departure, Destination, tail number, aircraft type and variant, out and in time which automatically determines day/night time as well as landings, my name, and then the other pilots name as SIC or in your case as PIC. During interviews they’ll have your logbook and printed e-logbook as well as your PRD. PRIA/records used to allow the interviewing airline to print out every flight you operated and every training event you completed to compare and verify,
diegom07@reddit
I use an app called logger, you can import the CSV from AIMS and keep track
Rich_Tangerine7744@reddit
I use AirSync to record flights.
PWJT8D@reddit
I didn’t log time until the furlough notices went out and then spent weeks getting everything back together again.
I use logbookpro now. Copy my schedule into it and it yoinks everything out for me.
deltoramastr@reddit
Newer pilot here, how do you convert your paper log to electronic with all the signatures you need from CFI'S?
ljthefa@reddit
I use Safelog which I feel like no one else uses. I never stopped logging my time because I like tracking it all.
I bought the lifetime subscription years ago so essentially it's free now. It was like $200 8 or so years ago, maybe longer.
It's compatible with pc/apple and iPhone/Android so I can log from my company iPad or my android phone
If I get behind a little I'll log from my PC since that's the fastest.
The thing I use it for mostly now is tracking MELs or issues with a certain tail so I know, oh this plane has issue X last time I flew it so let's see if it happens again
My company has a great mx department but planes are weird and knowledge is power
LizardKing77733@reddit
Block off - block on via the fms
Mr_Muckle@reddit
Pt 91 in Gulfstreams, career destination type place. I don't log anything, the company tracks things through FOS and we also have automatic OOOI though ARINC.
Brambleshire@reddit
I still do paper alongside electronic.
Crew Lounge Aero logbook
Ramrod489@reddit
I’d just go straight electronic. I use Foreflight’s logbook; exported a .pdf from that, bound it, and got my Legacy job.
captainmarkyD@reddit
I’m old school I use the old hard bound Jepp log book, and one line for every leg.
I_Play_Kennen@reddit
I currently use google sheets. Started building a tool to import info from photos or CSV imports from the company. Going to add scheduling support too since my company sends actual flight times to my calendar.
I don't have a paper logbook anymore, it got stolen from my car years ago when I was eating with a colleague after work. That's what prompted me to make a digital one.
Euryheli@reddit
I don’t. The airline tracks everything. If I want a record they can send it.
Cultural-Apricot-322@reddit
I’m cheap. MyFlightbook
SubarcticFarmer@reddit
It looks a lot cleaner to do it leg by leg. Just be consistent.
spacecadet2399@reddit
LogTenPro because it interfaces directly with my airline's system. So I click one button and it populates everything with the "official" numbers, then I just go through and edit stuff as needed. But it just takes a minute to make a full entry.
Downside of LogTenPro is that it requires all Apple stuff, even to use on desktop. When I first started out, I ended up actually buying a cheap old Mac Mini just to get all my old ForeFlight entries into LogTen, since it took some massaging to get all the fields to populate correctly. A few months later, Apple updated Mac OS again and since LogTen only supports something like two previous OS updates, my Mac Mini was now worthless. Good thing I only spent about $60 on it. But now you'd have to pay like $400 for a more recent model to do the same thing I did, if you weren't already a Mac person.
KroKart100@reddit
I still use paper lol
Edit:I also am not on top of it at all. Once every like 4 months I’ll say fuck it and try to catch up on it all.
I always end up catching up to it but it’s such PITA
olemiss36@reddit
I don’t
swakid8@reddit
Formerly Logbook Pro/APDL…
Currently- LogTen Pro…
I continue to keep a detailed logbook book even at my career airline. I would rather have it ready in the event if I need it.
Otherwise-Pen70@reddit
Once I got my atp and off probation I stopped logging time
slendermanboxedwine@reddit
I use Log ten pro, log all the OOOI times straight from ACARS every flight leg.
Matuteg@reddit
Log ten pro with auto import from FC View
Sugar_Cane_320@reddit
My logbook hasn’t seen the light of day in probably 6-7 years. Pretty sure it’s in my kid’s closet lol. Whatever system the airline has is good enough.
ApprehensiveVirus217@reddit
LogTen Pro is your friend when it comes to exporting your logbook or making all of the reports and graphs the majors will want to see.
I think it’s also a great product and I’m heavily into the Apple ecosystem so it works for me.
I can simply import my schedule which eliminates 90% of the data entry.
Syncs with all of my devices and I can instantly look up anything.
It’s overkill for a weekend warrior or even commercial pilot, but nearly necessary for the aspiring major applicant.
YugeWaterBottle@reddit
I don't log anything. Haven't opened a logbook in years.
Worried-Ebb-1699@reddit
My company keeps records I can download at my need.
Before that, I kept track via LogTen pro
rFlyingTower@reddit
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
I have both paper and electronic from the beginning. I am in a flying club and a Guard pilot about to start as a regional FO. Just curious what the best way to maintain them moving forward will be. Do you log every flight? How will the majors want to see this?
Please downvote this comment until it collapses.
Questions about this comment? Please see this wiki post before contacting the mods.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. If you have any questions, please contact the mods of this subreddit.