As a student pilot, one of the most important records you must have is a logbook. A logbook is essential in keeping track of your flight hours and experience, as well as identifying areas where you need to improve.
Why should student pilots keep a logbook?
As a student pilot, it is important to keep a logbook from the beginning of your career pursuit. Here are some reasons why:
- Record of flight experience: A logbook provides a record of your flight experience, which is essential when applying for jobs or further training. Employers and training organizations often require a certain amount of flight experience, which can be documented in your logbook.
- Identify areas for improvement: A logbook can help you identify areas where you need to improve. By recording the type of flight, weather conditions, and any issues that occurred during the flight, you can review your performance and identify areas for improvement.
- Meeting regulatory requirements: Many aviation regulatory bodies require pilots to maintain a logbook. In the US, for example, the FAA requires pilots to keep a logbook to document their flight experience and to meet the requirements for obtaining a pilot’s license.
- Building flight hours: For student pilots who are building flight hours, a logbook is essential in keeping track of their progress. Employers often require a certain amount of flight experience, and a logbook can help you keep track of your progress and ensure that you meet the requirements.
Paper vs Electronic Logbook
Traditionally, logbooks were kept in paper form, but with technological advancements, electronic logbooks have become more prevalent.
Electronic logbooks offer several advantages over paper logbooks. Firstly, they are easier to use. They are designed to be intuitive and straightforward, with no manual calculations required. Secondly, they offer automated data entry, which can save time and reduce the risk of errors. Thirdly, they can be accessed from anywhere, making it easier to keep track of your flights. Lastly, they are easy to backup, which means you don’t have to worry about losing your logbook.
Choosing an Electronic Logbook
With so many electronic logbooks available in the market, it can be challenging to choose the right one. Here we take a closer look at three of the best electronic logbooks available in the market to help you choose the right one for you.
1. Wader Pilot Logbook
Wader Pilot Logbook is a cloud-based digital logbook designed for pilots of all levels. It was created by pilots, for pilots, to help them manage their flight hours with ease.
What sets Wader apart from its competitors is that it is the only 100% free digital logbook with no hidden lines or limitations: this means that you can log as many flights as you want, without having to worry about hitting a logging limit or paying for additional features.
Wader Pilot Logbook offers an intuitive and straightforward logging experience. The app is user-friendly and offers a range of features that make it easy for pilots to track their flight hours. The app is also available on both iOS and Android platforms, making it accessible to a wide range of users.
Pros:
- Intuitive and user-friendly logging experience
- iOS and Android versions
- Free, with no limitations
Cons:
- To import previous hours users have to contact support
Pricing: 100% FREE
Apple Store Rating: 4.9
Google Play Rating: 4.9
More info: https://www.waderaviation.com/
2. LogTen Pilot Log
LogTen Pilot Log by Coradine offers a range of features that make it easy for pilots to track their flight hours, including schedule importer of over 100 airlines (included only for the paid subscription).
It offers a free version that allows users to log up to 50 hours of total flight time and support all Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, Watch, and Mac).
Pros:
- Airline Schedule Import
- Currency, Duty & Rest Tracking
Cons:
- Complex interface
- Only available for Apple devices
Pricing: free version for up to 50 hours of total flight time.
Subscriptions range from $79.99 to $349.99 annually.
Apple Store Rating: 4.6
Google Play Rating: N/A
3. RosterBuster Logbook
RB Logbook is the new electronic logbook offered by CAE as a complement of the RosterBuster Crew App (not included in the subscription).
The app offers a range of features to optimize the workflow to log flights faster, such as the Fly Now tool for users that want to log the bare minimum information of the flight. Many features (such as printing your logbook, saving personal notes to the flight or filtering your flights) are only available for paid subscribers, but they do offer a free tier with the basics to keep your log.
Pros:
- ACARS Scan
- Sync with RosterBuster
Cons:
- Many features are only available for paid subscribers
Pricing: free tier available (limited functionalities). Subscription at $45.99 annually (plus RosterBuster app subscription)
Apple Store Rating: 3.8
Google Play Rating: 4.0
In conclusion, a logbook is an essential tool for student pilots, and electronic logbooks offer several advantages over paper logbooks. Choosing the right logbook can be challenging, but with options like Wader Pilot Logbook, LogTen, and RosterBuster Logbook available in the market, student pilots have access to a range of logbooks that meet their needs.
