Flight log

This article is about a pilot's personal logbook. The flight movements at an airfield are documented in the main flight log. Flight time records from other aviation personnel such as flight engineers or the jump log for parachute athletes are not included here

Canadian Forces Flight Log 1917

A flight log (Engl. Flight logbook or pilot logbook ) is the record of all flights of pilots . The flight log is recognized in the regulations of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) as documentation of flight experience ( flight crew member's personal log book ), but is not regulated in detail. As a result, the rules for keeping a flight certificate are different in the states.

purpose

The flight log serves as evidence of flight hours as well as the type and circumstances of the flight. It is the basis for being able to exercise the rights as a responsible pilot , as the exercise of these rights is usually linked to a number of flight hours, landings and training courses in a certain period of time. In addition, it serves as proof of renewal of class rating or type rating . If the pilot wants to acquire a further authorization or pilot license, he must prove the necessary flight experience with the flight log, e.g. B. Night flight authorization or the commercial pilot license . Aviation authorities , aviation companies and aircraft charterers can use the flight log in connection with the license on site to check whether a pilot is allowed to operate a specific aircraft for a specific purpose as the pilot in command.

Implementation in EASA

Cover of a flight log

Following the introduction of Regulation (EU) No. 1178/2011 (EU-FCL), the approval, training and licensing of pilots and flight attendants will be regulated by the European Union . This also applies to the recording of the flights. The EU-Part FCL.50 deals with the recording of the pilots. This regulation is binding in all member states. However, the EU regulation has given the aviation authorities of the EASA member states the right to make additional regulations. The Acceptable Means of Compliance (AMC ) issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) detail the requirements in the EU regulation according to AMC1 FCL.050 Recording of flight time .

Entries in the flight log in accordance with AMC1 FCL.050

General Information:

• Name and address of the pilot

For each flight:

• Name of the pilot in charge
• date
• Airfield with take-off and landing times
• Aircraft type and series with aircraft registration
• Single-engine or multi-engine aircraft
• Total duration of the flight (block time)
• Total flight time of the pilot so far
• Function exercised (e.g. responsible pilot, co-pilot, student pilot, flight instructor)
• Flight rules (visual flight, instrument flight, night flight)

For simulators (Flight Simulator Training Device) also type and approval number

In principle, the flight log does not have to be carried on the flight, but must be presented to the authorities on request without undue delay.

Flight times as a pilot (PIC) are defined as follows:

• As a responsible pilot
  • The holder of a license can enter all flight times in which he is active as the pilot in command as flight time as the pilot in command.
  • The applicant for a license can enter all solo flight times or training times with instructors as the flight time as the pilot in command, provided that the flight time is countersigned by the instructor.
  • The holder of an instructor license can enter all flight times in which he is active as an instructor in an aircraft as the flight time as the pilot in charge.
  • The holder of a certification as an examiner can enter all flight times in which he occupies a pilot's seat and works as an examiner on an aircraft as flight time as the pilot-in-command.
  • A co-pilot who, under the supervision of the pilot-in-command, acts as the pilot-in-command on an aircraft for which a minimum crew of two pilots is required by the type certification or the regulations may enter these flight times as the flight time as the pilot-in-command, provided that this flight time is countersigned by the pilot in charge.
  • Responsible pilot under supervision (PICUS): Provided that the type of supervision meets the requirements of the responsible body, a co-pilot can enter flight time as PICUS as flight time as responsible pilot, if all tasks and activities of the responsible pilot on this flight were carried out in such a way, that the pilot in command did not need to intervene for safety reasons.

• As a co-pilot
  • The holder of a pilot's license, who takes the seat of the co-pilot, can enter all flight times as co-pilot on aircraft for which a minimum flight crew of two pilots is required by the type certification or the conditions under which the respective flight is carried out.
  • A co-pilot for replacement in cruise flight can enter all flight times in which he occupies the seat of a pilot as flight time as co-pilot.

• Training time: A summary of all the times that the applicant has entered for a license or authorization as flight training, instrument flight training, instrument ground time, etc. must be provided by the appropriately authorized and / or recognized teacher who trained the applicant, stating the type and number of his pilot's license are certified as correct

If the holder of a license carries out several flights on the same day, each time returning to the departure airport and the interval between the successive flights is not more than 30 minutes, these flights can be grouped together as one entry.

Flight times are defined as follows:

• For aircraft, touring motor gliders and aircraft with vertical take-off and landing capability, the time between the first time an aircraft rolls out of its parking position for the purpose of take-off until it comes to a stop at the assigned parking position.
• For helicopters, the time between the first rotation of the rotor blades until landing and the subsequent standstill of the rotor.
• For airships, the time at which an airship is released from the mast in order to take off, to the time at which the airship finally comes to a standstill at the end of the flight and is attached to the mast.

As a rule, the flight times cannot be derived from the take-off and landing times of the airport and therefore do not correspond to the data in the main flight log of the airport.

Germany

Blank page of a German / English flight log

The Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure has made use of the right to regulate. In the underlying news for air drivers (NfL 2-330-14) of March 30, 2017, a distinction is made between commercial air traffic and private air traffic. For both, the entries according to AMC1 FCL.050 must be made. In the case of private air traffic and flight training, further regulations are set out in the appendix to the NfL.

Regulations flight log according to NfL 2-330-17

For commercial aviation operations, the pilot's flight times can be recorded electronically by the operator; there are no further regulations in the NfL. If a pilot operates commercial flight operations, for which he only has electronic records, as well as non-commercial flight operations, he has to keep a separate logbook for private flight operations. For private flight operations or as part of flight training, the appendix of the NfL must be observed. The logbook must be kept for five years after the last entry. In the appendix, in addition to the repetition of the provisions in AMC FCL.50, the following regulations are specified:

• The flight log has the character of a document
• must be kept in handwritten form in a bound book
• Entries may only be made in proper form
• Changes and deletions must be made in such a way that the original entry remains recognizable.

Entries in the flight log in accordance with § 120 LuftPersV

Aviation equipment operators are not affected by the AMC and NfL and are exclusively subject to the national regulations in § 120 LuftPersV . According to §1 LuftPersV in conjunction with §120 LuftPersV , the following personnel must keep a flight log:

• Flight engineers ,
• Flight technicians on helicopters of the federal and state police forces,
• Air sports equipment operator

The following entries:

• Name of the pilot in command
• date
• Aircraft type and registration number of the aircraft
• Type of flight
• Take-off and landing airfield,
• Departure and arrival times in coordinated universal time
• Total duration of the flight
• Total flight time of the pilot

The flight log is to be carried with the activity on board and to be kept for two years after the last entry. Organizations commissioned for air sports equipment can grant exceptions and issue further regulations.

Overview

This system of rules means that the legal basis and thus the details of flight records are not uniformly regulated in Germany and depend on the type of license, the administrative body and the type of license being exercised. In the NfL 2-330-17 as well as leaflets of some state aviation authorities, pilots are therefore recommended to keep a separate logbook for each aircraft class and also for air sports equipment.

activity	AMC FCL.50	NfL 2-330-17 Appendix	Section 120 LuftPersV	Air sports association
Commercial operation
Private company and training
Air sports equipment operator

United States of America

The keeping of the flight log is regulated in 14 CFR § 61.51 - Pilot logbooks . Accordingly, a flight log is to be kept for:

• Proof of the necessary practical flight experience to acquire a flight license or type rating
• Proof of current flight experience for the exercise of certain rights.

The following entries are required in the flight logbook :

• date
• Take-off and landing airfield, location of the simulator
• Type and registration number of the aircraft
• Name of the safety pilot if necessary
• Activity in flight (responsible pilot, student pilot, co-pilot)
• Type and circumstances of the flight (day, night, instrument flight, simulated instrument flight)

The flight log, whether manually or electronically, does not have to be carried on the flight, except through:

• Student pilots on solo flights,
• Pilots with a Sport Pilot Certificate or Recretional Pilot Certificate who exercise extended rights from their pilot license, e.g. B. Flight through controlled airspace.

In principle, it is not necessary to record all flights, only the required evidence of experience according to 14 CFR § 61.51 . In practice, however, most pilots take note of all flights, as the flight log is used as evidence of experience for insurance companies, charter companies and flight schools.

In contrast to Germany, many additional authorizations, such as successful training on tail-wheel planes or the necessary regular training flight with a flight instructor, do not have to be reported to the Federal Aviation Administration as a license office, but are usually entered directly in the flight log by the flight instructor as a so-called endorsement .

Web links

Wiktionary: flight log  - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations

• Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure : Principles for the recording of flight times according to Regulation (EU) No. 1178/2011 FCL.050. (PDF) In: News for pilots. DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung NfL 2-330-17, March 30, 2017, accessed on August 24, 2019 . 
• European Aviation Safety Agency: Part-FCL - Acceptable Means of Compliance and Guidance Material. (PDF) June 1, 2016, accessed on August 24, 2019 . 
• VO (EU) 1178/2011 laying down technical regulations and administrative procedures in relation to flying personnel in civil aviation

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Appendices to the Convention of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Appendix 1: Personnel Licensing.
2. ↑ VO (EU) 1178/2011 FCL.50
3. ↑ ^{a b c} European Aviation Safety Agency: Part-FCL - Acceptable Means of Compliance and Guidance Material. (PDF) June 1, 2016, accessed on August 24, 2019 . 
4. ↑ VO (EU) 1178/2011 FCL.45
5. ↑ Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure : Principles for recording flight times in accordance with Regulation (EU) No. 1178/2011 FCL.050. (PDF) In: News for pilots. DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung NfL 2-330-17, March 30, 2017, accessed on August 24, 2019 . 
6. ↑ ^{a b} Ordinance on aviation personnel, LuftPersV § 120
7. ↑ German Hang Glider Association : Information on mandatory flight logbooks. Accessed August 31, 2019 . 
8. ↑ ^{a b} 14 CFR § 61.51 - Pilot logbooks. Accessed August 31, 2019 . 

Please note the information on legal issues!