Read Any Good Logbooks Lately?

As any pilot, aircraft owner, or maintenance professional knows, an aircraft requires a thorough and seemingly complex system of record-keeping to ensure it can be operated safely. In addition to having the shared responsibility of ensuring an aircraft complies with all relevant regulations to maintain its airworthiness, there is also a need to keep an accurate log of equipment changes — everything from a new transponder to a new seat belt system.

Logbooks are the preferred method to enter and track these changes. With so many variations, it can be a daunting task to know which logbook to use when you are making or verifying an entry. And, even when you use the correct one, deciphering information from a logbook can be frustrating. With a little guidance on where and what to look for, you will have a clearer path to ensuring your aircraft has what it needs to fly legally and safely.

Read more in the March/April FAA Safety Briefing at www.faa.gov/news/safety_briefing/2011/media/MarApr2011.pdf