Electronic pilot logbook: what FCL.050 says
Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011: whether a digital logbook is legal, the data to record, signatures and good practice.
Is an electronic pilot logbook legal?
Yes. FCL.050 requires pilots to keep a reliable record of their flights, and AMC1 FCL.050 (c)(2) allows that logbook to be kept in electronic format, provided all the data listed in point (a) is included.
FCL.050: “The pilot shall keep a reliable record of the details of all flights flown in a form and manner established by the competent authority.”AMC1 FCL.050 (c)(2): “[…] the pilot should record the details of the flights flown in the following logbook format, which may be kept in electronic format. All data set out in (a) should be included.”The Fiamingu aéro logbook keeps your flights online and exports them as PDF or CSV. Check that your export contains all the data required by AMC1 FCL.050 (a).
What information should a pilot logbook contain?
For each flight: date, departure and arrival places and times, aircraft type and registration, single or multi-engine, total time, function on board and time per function, conditions (day, night, VFR, IFR), landings and remarks. Simulator (FSTD) sessions have their own record. AMC1 FCL.050 also asks for the pilot’s name and address and the cumulative flight time.
Flights
- Date, departure and arrival place (ICAO code)
- Departure and arrival times (UTC)
- Name of the pilot-in-command (PIC)
- Aircraft type and registration
- Single-engine (SE) or multi-engine (ME)
- Total flight time
- Function: PIC, SIC, PICUS, SPIC, dual, FI, FE
- Time per function
- Conditions: day / night
- Flight rules: VFR, IFR, SVFR
- Day and night landings
- Remarks
Simulator sessions (FSTD)
- FSTD type and qualification (FNPT, FTD, FFS, BITD)
- Date and duration of the session
- Instructor’s name
- Description of the exercises
- Simulated conditions (instrument, night)
When is the instructor’s signature required?
SPIC time (student pilot-in-command) is countersigned by the instructor, PICUS time by the pilot-in-command, and revalidation flights carry the instructor’s or examiner’s name and signature. Dual and solo flights need no countersignature.
Countersignature required
- SPIC time (student pilot-in-command): by the instructor
- PICUS time (under supervision): by the pilot-in-command
- Revalidation flights: name and signature of the instructor or examiner
No countersignature required
- Dual: recording is enough (good practice: note the instructor’s name)
- Solo flights (PIC): no signature required
Which flights are locked in the Fiamingu aéro logbook?
A flight made with a club using Fiamingu aéro and signed by the instructor is locked in the database and appears read-only in the logbook. Flights that pilots log themselves have no online signature: they can correct them.
- Protected fields of a signed club flight: date, time, places, landings, function, PIC name
- These flights appear read-only in your logbook
How should you keep a digital logbook in practice?
Export your logbook regularly as PDF or CSV and keep a copy. FCL.045 (c) requires you to present your flight time record without undue delay when the authority asks: the logbook opens on your phone and the PDF export can be printed. Check your entries, have SPIC and PICUS time countersigned, and log simulator sessions with the device type.
- Backup: export your logbook regularly as PDF or CSV
- Pilot’s responsibility: check your entries (time, function, conditions, PIC name, landings)
- AMC1 FCL.050 (b)(1): SPIC time and time under supervision count as PIC when countersigned
- FSTD sessions: note the type, the device qualification and the exercises
Reference texts
Your pilot logbook, free
Flights, simulator sessions, calculated totals and PDF or CSV export. And if your club adopts Fiamingu aéro, your club flights arrive in it, signed.
Discover the logbookShow Fiamingu aéro to my club:
This guide summarises the texts; it does not replace reading them. Fiamingu aéro Logbook is neither certified nor approved by EASA or the DGAC. The pilot remains responsible for keeping their flight time record (FCL.050).