What to Do When You Lose Your Logbook

If you can't put your hands on your logbook, here's what the FAA will accept as proof of hours.

Meg Godlewski

Wednesday, July 17, 2024 at 12:47 PM ET

Verified

Edited By: tccjeremy

Hours of aeronautical experience don't expire but they need to be properly logged. [Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

The FAA generally accepts a pilot's last airman certificate application (Form 8710-1) or their last medical application (Form 8500-8) as proof of flight hours, particularly when traditional logbooks are lost.
Pilots are advised to invest in electronic logbooks saved to the cloud or digitize their paper logbooks to prevent future loss of flight records.
For rented aircraft, pilots may be able to recreate lost flight experience by cross-referencing receipts.

See a mistake? Contact us.

Question: I have more than 8,900 hours logged as PIC and hold several instructor ratings. The trouble is I can’t find my older logbooks. I moved and I think they are in a storage unit thousands of miles away. Will the FAA accept an 8710 form as proof of hours?

READ MORE: What Is the Rudder Used for in Flying?

Answer: According to an FAA spokesperson: “Generally speaking, the FAA will accept [a pilot’s] last airman certificate application (Form 8710-1) or what they reported on their last medical application (Form 8500-8).” You should have access to at least one of those documents.