The Short Answer: Yes, Digital Logbooks Are FAA Acceptable
The FAA does not require pilots to keep paper logbooks. Under 14 CFR 61.51, pilots are required to log aeronautical experience, but the regulation does not specify paper as the only acceptable format. Digital logbooks — whether in an app, a spreadsheet, or a cloud-based platform — satisfy the logging requirement as long as they contain all required information.
This has been the FAA's position for years. Multiple legal interpretations and FAA guidance letters confirm that electronic logbooks are acceptable. The confusion comes from the fact that 14 CFR 61.51 was written before electronic logbooks existed, and the rule has never been formally updated to call them out by name. The absence of explicit permission isn't prohibition.
What FAR 61.51 Actually Requires
14 CFR 61.51 sets out the logging requirements for pilots. The key provisions:
You must log:
- Each flight lesson or proficiency check
- Solo flight time
- Night flying time
- Instrument flight time (actual and simulated)
- Cross-country flight time
- Landings (day and night, where applicable)
- Any other time required for a certificate, rating, or recent flight experience requirement
Each entry must include:
- Date
- Total flight time or lesson time
- Location where the flight originated and terminated
- Type and identification of aircraft used
- Type of pilot experience (as PIC, SIC, solo, etc.)
- Conditions of flight (day/night, IFR/VFR)
Instructor endorsements must be signed — this is the area where digital logbooks require the most attention (more on this below).
The Electronic Signature Question
The most common concern pilots have about digital logbooks involves CFI endorsements and signatures. A flight instructor endorsing your logbook for a solo flight, rating recommendation, or flight review must sign the entry. Can that be done digitally?
The answer is yes, with the right approach:
Option 1: Print and sign. Many pilots using digital logbooks print the relevant page, have their CFI sign it, and scan it back in. This creates a paper record that satisfies traditional signature requirements.
Option 2: Electronic signature software. Platforms that use legally recognized e-signature standards (such as those complying with the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, or E-SIGN Act) can support valid endorsements. The key is that the signature must be attributable to the signer and tamper-evident.
Option 3: Separate endorsement logbook. Some pilots keep a small paper endorsement book for official signatures and a digital logbook for flight records. This is a clean, practical solution that many DPEs and FAA inspectors accept without question.
What Counts as a "Legible" Record
61.51 requires that logbook entries be legible and in ink — language written when paper was the only option. The FAA has interpreted "legible" to include digital records. The key standard is that the record must be capable of being inspected and verified.
For digital logbooks, this means:
- Entries should not be editable after the fact without a clear audit trail
- The record should be accessible and printable if requested by an FAA inspector or DPE
- Backup copies should exist (cloud storage with version history satisfies this)
Aeradex Hangar stores logbook data with timestamps and extraction records, giving you an audit-friendly history that's actually more reliable than a paper logbook where entries can be changed without any trace.
Paper vs. Digital: Legal Equivalence
The FAA has issued several legal interpretations confirming that electronic records satisfy 61.51 requirements. The most cited is the 2014 Oord Legal Interpretation, which states that a pilot may maintain electronic records as long as the records can be presented upon inspection.
The practical implication: if an FAA inspector or DPE asks to see your logbook, you need to be able to show them the data — on a device, as a printout, or both. A PDF export of your digital logbook is generally accepted.
Where paper still matters:
- Some DPEs prefer paper logbooks for checkrides. Confirm with your DPE in advance.
- Airlines and Part 135 operators may have their own requirements. Check with your employer.
- The original paper logbook (if you have one) remains a valuable backup and primary document.
Our Recommendation: Keep Both
The safest approach for most pilots is a hybrid strategy:
- Keep the original paper logbook as the primary record. Store it somewhere safe — not in your flight bag.
- Maintain a digital logbook as your working copy and backup. Use it for currency checks, job applications, and anything where you need quick access to your hours.
- Digitize your existing paper logbook so your historical records are captured before something happens to the paper.
If you haven't digitized your paper logbook yet, Aeradex can do it for free using AI. Upload photos of your pages and get your full hour totals extracted and stored permanently.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use ForeFlight, Logbook Pro, or MyFlightbook as my primary logbook? Yes. All of these are widely accepted digital logbooks that satisfy 61.51 requirements.
What if I want to switch from paper to digital mid-career? You can switch at any time. Your existing paper logbook remains valid for all entries made in it. Going forward, you can log digitally and keep the paper book as a permanent backup.
Do I need to get my existing paper logbook endorsed again digitally? No. Endorsements that were properly made in your paper logbook are valid records. You don't need to recreate them digitally.
What happens if my digital logbook provider shuts down? This is a real risk. Always export your logbook data regularly (CSV or PDF) and store it in a place you control — your own cloud storage, external hard drive, or printed copy. Aeradex stores logbook data persistently and gives you export access.
The Bottom Line
Digital logbooks are FAA legal. The regulation requires that you log the right information — not that you use paper to do it. With modern platforms, digital logbooks are more accessible, more searchable, and frankly more reliable than a single paper book.
The one area that deserves extra care is instructor endorsements. Use a clear, documented process for those — whether that's printouts, e-signature software, or a separate paper endorsement book.
For everything else, go digital. Your career will thank you when you're filing a job application at 11 PM and your complete flight history is three taps away.
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