Electronic Flight Log Books

[Hank]

. . . just keeping track of all my passwords requires a computer.

I'm in the same boat. Usernames and passwords are all on a spreadsheet in my ancient Palm, which is on life support. I'm afraid to put the file my phone, where it could be corrupted or hacked, and it won't do much good on my PC (even more threatening environment), as it has my system password to log on . . . I'm afraid I'll soon back-migrate to a piece of paper and a pencil, so I can change them. Last I looked, the file was 50+ lines long, way too much to remember.

And yes, my logbook is paper, but I only have two more pages to go until it's full. Lots of places sell them, but they don't show the pages, which makes it hard to choose.

[midlifeflyer]

i can see where electronic would be nice for commercial but for the 50 to 100 hrs a year that i fly. open the book turn to the page write it down close the book.  i dont know about the rest of you but computers and smart phones have made my life more complicared than ever. I know all the great things that you can do on them but just keeping track of all my passwords requires a computer.

 

OTOH since I've been using an electronic logbook since DOS (along with paper until last year), it's no big deal at all. I don't find electronic record-keeping any better or worse that paper, just different, although it does tend to be much easier to find things.

[bonal]

So I was thinking does any one use electronic for engine airframe and prop logs. Is there such a thing are they allowed? As for easy to find well all my aircraft and pilot stuff is on a shelf in a bookcase right as you come into the living room and it's always right there.

[DrBill]

I created an Excel spreadsheet to exactly match my logbook (paper) format.  It really helps when computing flying hours per year for insurance reporting.  I also use it to record numbers of landings and approaches (helps with currency).

I recently compleyted my first logbook so I bought a new book and created a spreadsheet that matched it.  This works great for keeping the various totals.

Easy to do too.

The number of lines above the subtotals match the paper book.

 

BILL

 

 

logpage.pdf

[Oscar Avalle]

I use logbook pro. It is over engineered for GA aviation. But it is nice to have back ups on my MAC, iphone and Ipad. However, I still keep my paper logs just in case...

[phecksel]

Do both...

 

I went all electronic with FliteSoft.  10 years away, three or four computer and/or OS upgrades and a program that is no longer supported, I'm essentially screwed.  The one smart thing I did, was a hard copy data dump when I sold my Mooney.

[Bob_Belville]

Since returning to flying less than 3 years ago I've been using CSC DUATS for flight planning and filing. It has been fine but there seems to be a possibility that the DUATS program might go away so I've been migrating to FltPlan which seems to be pretty nice. 

 

One the tools is elogbook. I spent several hours loading my data into that system. Not sure it is going to be all that useful compared to my excel workbook. But I think I can export data as CSV so my work should not be wasted.

 

Anyone else using these free tools?

[midlifeflyer]

Do both...

 

I went all electronic with FliteSoft.  10 years away, three or four computer and/or OS upgrades and a program that is no longer supported, I'm essentially screwed.  The one smart thing I did, was a hard copy data dump when I sold my Mooney.

 

What was the data format of the FliteSoft logbook? I was a FliteSoft user for a while but never used the logbook function. If I recall correctly, the program used a fairly standard data file format, maybe dbf?  If that's the case, unless you decided to erase your data, your electronic logbook entries are still available and can be ported to another program. 

[midlifeflyer]

Since returning to flying less than 3 years ago I've been using CSC DUATS for flight planning and filing. It has been fine but there seems to be a possibility that the DUATS program might go away so I've been migrating to FltPlan which seems to be pretty nice. 

 

One the tools is elogbook. I spent several hours loading my data into that system. Not sure it is going to be all that useful compared to my excel workbook. But I think I can export data as CSV so my work should not be wasted.

 

Anyone else using these free tools?

 

Fltplan, of course. It's logbook, no. Another free one, yes.

[Cruiser]

there are a couple of free log book programs in the downloads section of MooneySpace.

[phecksel]

What was the data format of the FliteSoft logbook? I was a FliteSoft user for a while but never used the logbook function. If I recall correctly, the program used a fairly standard data file format, maybe dbf?  If that's the case, unless you decided to erase your data, your electronic logbook entries are still available and can be ported to another program. 

highly unlikely I deleted the data file... finding it might be a much more difficult enterprise.

[midlifeflyer]

highly unlikely I deleted the data file... finding it might be a much more difficult enterprise.

If you accepted the FliteSoft installation defaults, as I recall it was in the root of Drive C.

[carusoam]

C:

CD\

DIR *.*

Old DOS commands.

To change the active drive to C:

Then change directory to the root directory \

Then search that directory for all files *.*

Or the dbf files *.dbf

Non expert advice...

-a-

[Hank]

Wouldn't

 

C:\

 

take you straight to the root? Then

 

DIR *.*

 

will bring up everything. I'm an old DOS junkie, and didn't allow any Windows stuff into my home until the internet reached rural NC and I had to get Explorer to go on line . . .   A sad day for me . . .

 

Good luck finding your data!

[midlifeflyer]

Wouldn't

 

C:\

 

take you straight to the root?

Not necessarily and not always.

But you wouldn't need to go to the command prompt these days.

[phecksel]

99% sure I wouldn't have accepted C:\ as the default directory.  If it was a DBF file, that will help the search

[jlunseth]

Yeah, that is what concerns me about going all electronic.  I work with data quite a lot.  We teach people the "delete" does not mean it is gone.  But it is stunning how often data that does not want to get lost, actually finds a way to get lost.  The "upgrade path" is a common culprit, where a particular software works great for the period of time it is supported, but when it is not supported there is no way to use or display the data without paying big conversion fees.  Another is simply loss of data on various media, CD's are great for that, don't ever store your stuff on a CD.  I keep both paper and electronic.

 

Phecksel go to My Computer and in the search line type in *.dbf, but I am guessing you know that.  The problem then, is how do you convert the data to something you can use in a different software.

[midlifeflyer]

99% sure I wouldn't have accepted C:\ as the default directory.  If it was a DBF file, that will help the search

Not pure C:\. A Flitesoft folder under C:\. Like maybe C;\fs\. Of course, if you have you installation disk, it's easy.

[midlifeflyer]

 The problem then, is how do you convert the data to something you can use in a different software.

 

Open it in Excel, Access, Open Office, LibreOffice, etc, etc, etc. and save it/convert it to pretty much whatever you want com. Just about every spreadsheet and database program can read the DBF files. It was once one of the almost universal standards for DataBase Files.

 

By the same token, I'm not aware of any program or online logbook app that won't take a common spreadsheet file, eve  if it's just simple csv. Actually sounds like a simple conversion to me.

[midlifeflyer]

Wow! Out of curiosity I searched my own files for .dbf files. Located one from an old home accounting program with entries from 1987 thru 1992. Opened it right up with no problem.

[phecksel]

no joy on searching on the file extension.  Have two other options, there is a change it's on my server, but I doubt it.  Last potential option is I believe I still have that original C drive in a box.

[ryoder]

I use myflightbook but only as a backup and currency checking tool. I always log in the paper book and then every two weeks or so. I'll update the online logbook.

[Seth]

Seeing that a new thread emerged about Electronic Flight Books, I'm bumping this back up and also asking:

 

I've now added the previous three years or so into www.myflightbook.com.

 

About half of us use electronic flight books.

 

Are there any recent changes or new additions to the Electronic Flight book World?  

 

-Seth

[N601RX]

I know most people on here would never purposely do anything wrong, but honest mistakes do happen.  With online logbooks that have cloud storage its very likely that ever change or edit is recorded and logged as well as daily backups.  IF there is ever an accident or violation, you don't get a chance to make sure everything is in order.  Your logs could be subpoenaed as well as any edits you make.

[midlifeflyer]

I know most people on here would never purposely do anything wrong, but honest mistakes do happen.  With online logbooks that have cloud storage its very likely that ever change or edit is recorded and logged as well as daily backups.  IF there is ever an accident or violation, you don't get a chance to make sure everything is in order.  Your logs could be subpoenaed as well as any edits you make.

Definitely. But I would think edits are even more noticeable in a paper log.

 

And, of course, if we're talking about an enforcement action as opposed to accident litigation in court, no need for the subpoena. The FAA just asks you to produce it under 61.51(i).