Register

Paper vs. Electronic Logbooks: Pros and Cons

Find out the best flight logbook for you—paper, digital, or a combination.

Carly writes in her logbook
You may consider using more than one type or brand of logbook to diversify your data storage. [Photo by Carly Chamerlik | Flying Magazine]
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Pilot logbooks are essential for tracking flight time, experience, and currency, and are available in both traditional paper and modern electronic formats.
  • Paper logbooks offer tangibility and universal acceptance but are susceptible to damage/loss, manual errors, and difficulty in data analysis.
  • Electronic logbooks provide automatic calculations, easy editing, advanced reporting, and secure cloud storage, though they involve a learning curve, technology dependence, and potential subscription costs.
  • The best logbook type depends on individual needs and specific scenarios (e.g., electronic for career advancement, paper for in-cockpit reference), with many pilots choosing a combination or a backup system.
See a mistake? Contact us.

Logging flight time and experience is an essential part of becoming a pilot. Logbooks, both paper and electronic, help pilots track and organize their hours and endorsements for future reference.

Deciding which type of logbook to use is important to do early on in your flying career, if possible. The more hours a pilot accumulates, the more work it will be to transfer all of that information into a new format. Before choosing a logbook, consider these pros and cons to determine which one is right for you.

Carly Chamerlik

Carly Chamerlik is a commercial pilot, independent flight instructor, former flight attendant, and aviation content creator. Her mission is to inspire others to learn how to fly, and to make general aviation more accessible to the next generation of pilots. She writes about flight training, pilot gear, business aviation, and aviation tech.

Ready to Sell Your Aircraft?

List your airplane on AircraftForSale.com and reach qualified buyers.

List Your Aircraft
AircraftForSale Logo | FLYING Logo
Pilot in aircraft
Sign-up for newsletters & special offers!

Get the latest stories & special offers delivered directly to your inbox.

SUBSCRIBE