In the United States, under FAA regulations (specifically 14 CFR § 61.51), a pilot is generally not required to carry their physical logbook on every flight. However, they must be able to present their logbook for inspection upon a reasonable request from the FAA, an authorized representative of the NTSB, or any federal, state, or local law enforcement officer. The physical documents a pilot must have in their possession while flying include their pilot certificate, a current and appropriate medical certificate, and a government-issued photo ID. The exception to the logbook rule applies to student pilots on solo cross-country flights; they must carry their logbook (or an equivalent document) with the required instructor endorsements to prove they are authorized for that specific operation. For most certified pilots in 2026, the logbook stays safely at home or is maintained in a digital format, as its primary purpose is to document the "recent flight experience" required to act as pilot in command or to prove eligibility for a new rating or certificate during a checkride.