Whether it’s a J-3 Cub or a BBJ, every owner/operator understands the value of keeping good logs. Or at least they should. But, what most don’t really understand is what types of information are required to be in those logbooks and/or the right way to fill one out. It’s more than a bit confusing.

Let’s start with what the FARs (Federal Aviation Regulations) say about logbook entries – please keep in mind that this FAR pertains to Part 91 aircraft, not those operated as part of a Part 135 for-hire charter or Part 121 air carrier.

Anyway, as it is written in the FAA’s Advisory Circular, AC 43091, Part 91, § 91.417 states that an aircraft owner/operator shall keep and maintain aircraft maintenance records. Part 43, § 43.9 further states that each person who maintains, performs preventive maintenance, rebuilds, or alters an aircraft, airframe, aircraft engine, propeller, appliance, or component part shall make an entry in the maintenance record (logbook) for that equipment.

In addition, the owner/operator also needs to track and record the following information:

• The aircraft’s current inspection status.
• The current status of all life-limited and calendar-limited parts and components.
• A list of all AD’s (Airworthiness Directives) accomplished on the aircraft.
• A list of Form 337s alterations completed on the aircraft.
• The total time and landings/cycles on the aircraft and engines.
• The status of all FAR Part 91 altimeter and transponder checks.

While the FAR does give guidance on the ingredients that make up your FAA logs, like many fast-food burgers, how those records are finished off is up to you. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. Why? Well, like building a great burger, there’s really no wrong answer when it comes to how to fill out your logbooks.

As long as all of the required information is written in the various logbooks or recorded in some equally permanent way, you and/or your aircraft’s maintainer are free to create your own solution.

And speaking of your aircraft’s maintainer, don’t think that you can just let them run haphazard with your aircraft’s record-keeping. The FAA clearly states that the aircraft owner is “ultimately responsible” for ensuring that the aircraft’s maintenance is accomplished and recorded in compliance with the FARs. If the FAA comes asking, you better have the right answer.

Sooner or later, any mistakes, misinformation, or omissions are going to fall on you to rectify. And, as your aircraft ages, all of those records and compliance documents can really stack up. Can you imagine the headache of trying to go back 5, 10, or more years of paperwork to find a record of compliance to some minuscule maintenance item? No thanks.

But, there is an easy, cost-effective solution that will not only make your logbooks neater and tidier now, it also assures easy searchability and file-sharing later on: Bluetail electronic records scanning.

To learn more about how Bluetail can take the mystery of keeping your aircraft’s logbooks current, discover the modern way at Bluetail.aero.