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Do airlines accept electronic logbooks?

The FAA doesn't lay out exactly how you should log your hours, even those hours that the rules require. While commercially available paper pilot logbooks have been the standard for decades, nothing specifically says a digital one won't do.



Yes, almost all major airlines and aviation regulatory bodies (such as the FAA, EASA, and CAA) now accept electronic logbooks for pilot applications and interviews. In fact, many modern airlines prefer digital records because they are easier to read, less prone to arithmetic errors, and provide clear summaries of specific flight times (such as night time, instrument time, or multi-engine hours). However, there is an important caveat: while you may track your hours digitally, you must ensure that your electronic logbook meets the specific legal standards for digital signatures and verification. Most popular apps like LogTen Pro or ForeFlight have built-in systems to capture instructor signatures that comply with these regulations. For a job interview at a major carrier, while you can show a digital version, it is still standard industry practice to bring a professionally printed and bound hard copy of your electronic logbook. This demonstrates a high level of professionalism and allows the interviewers to quickly flip through your history without needing a device. As long as your digital record is accurate, backed up, and follows the standardized format (Columns for PIC, SIC, aircraft type, etc.), it is perfectly legal and widely considered the modern gold standard for pilot record-keeping.

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