Choosing a pilot logbook app: what to look for

The questions worth asking before you move your hours into any digital logbook, from EASA layout to export and data ownership.

The short answer

Pick the logbook that stores time the way your authority does, exports a layout an examiner accepts, works without signal, and lets you take all of your data out. Everything else is preference.

Questions to ask

• Does it store hours and minutes, or decimals it converts later?
• Does the export match the EASA paper layout with page totals?
• Are simulator sessions kept apart from aircraft time?
• Can you log offline at the aircraft?
• Does it track currency and ratings, or only store flights?
• Can you export everything as CSV at any time, and delete your account?
• Is it built for your rules? Tools made for FAA pilots often count currency differently.

Where caeloo fits

caeloo is built around EASA from the start: FCL.050 layout, ICAO codes, block and function time checks, currency, licence progress, a document wallet and aircraft management, on iPhone, iPad and the web. There is a free plan, so you can move a few months of flights across and see whether it suits you before bringing the rest.