It's all about what works best for you.
Assuming you have decided to log your drone flight and/or maintenance data, you face making a choice between using a digital or traditional logbook. If you are in love with online data entry and manipulation then there is really no choice to make; you go for the electronic version of course. If, however, you are mostly interested in finding the logging procedure that most efficiently and cost-effectively records the data you need to record, then it is in your interest to consider the pros and cons of each type in order to decide which works best for your operation.
There are many considerations to take into account when choosing between a digital or traditional logbook, and your personal situation and intentions will certainly emphasize the importance of some over others. In this third installment in the Parhelion Guide series we will present the points that we consider most important in making this determination. For the record: Parhelion Aerospace sells both kinds of logbooks: electronic and traditional.
To read more general remarks about using logbooks to record your drone data, go to our Parhelion Guide articles on the subjects of ‘Pilot Logbooks‘ and ‘Aircraft Logbooks.’
Traditional hardcover and paperback logbooks:
Traditional paper logbooks have been around for centuries, beginning as ships’ logs and later as airplane and helicopter logbooks. By “paper” logbook I mean one that is a bound, published, physical book that you can write in. This practice of making a record of trip and vessel condition data was almost immediately taken up by those who first began to fly and has been an aviation standard procedure ever since. The importance of logging such data is just as relevant to UAV flying now as it has always been to standard aviation.
Assuming that traditionalism is not a sufficient reason to choose this form of logbook for most UAV pilots/operator companies, what are the pros and cons of using a paper version?
The pros:
1. Cost. A good, hardbound paper logbook costs less than $25.00 on average. Depending on how much you fly, your paper log, if it permits a large number of flights to be recorded (not all of them are equal in this regard), may last you for more than a year.
2. Portability. Paper logs can be easily placed into your backpack when you are out on a flying job or just enjoying some time off with your drone.
The main benefit of portability is that you can record your flight data ‘on-the-spot.” Having your logbook with you when you go flying means that you can log your data immediately, helping you to avoid having to jot down notes (that could get lost) for entering into your log later. Of course, if you fly an aircraft that has the capability to record some of the relevant flight data in its memory then you can avoid having to take notes, but I find it easier and more complete to bring my logbook with me into the field and to record my flights as soon as they are finished. My drone does record a lot of data itself, but not all that I wish to record in my log, so I would have to take notes for later logging if I didn’t carry the book with me.
3. Permanence. If you log your data with a pen, and especially if you have bought a durable, hardcover logbook, then you will have created a record of your flying that is about as permanent as they come. Additionally, you will have made a record that is very hard to falsify after the fact, a thing that lends a sense of veracity to your operational history.
4. “Show” value. You can easily show your logbook to customers (or potential employers) who may need to see, in an easy-to-understand format, evidence that you are an experienced, trained and certified drone pilot or operator company. Or, you may simply like to compare your totals to those of your friends!
5. Independence. Your paper logbook is yours forever; you do not have to depend upon the hope that your electronic logbook company will remain in business.
6. Ease of data entry. Paper logbooks are easy to learn how to use. You need no user manual or instructional video.
7. Availability. Paper logbooks do not require an internet connection to record your flight data, which you may or may not have when out flying. The data are alway easy to access; just open a book.
Not all paper logs are created equal!
You will be best served by a hardbound logbook which will not get bent, torn or otherwise destroyed when you stuff it into your backpack or other carrying case. I am constantly amazed at the number of paperback logbooks that are available to buy, and the number that are bought (my company sells some also) since these books are not durable and can’t really create for you a quality, permanent record of your flights, which is, after all, your goal.
Not only that, but most of the paperback logbooks for sale today are US Letter-size books, (8.5 x 11 inches), which is quite large for portability. Standard aviation logbooks are generally smaller than that, and with good reason: airplane and helicopter pilots want to be able to stuff them into their flight bags without taking up a lot of space.
The explanation lies in the fact that paperback books are cheaper, of course (and US Letter-size is the easiest make), and it seems that the difference in price is an important issue for many drone pilots (paperback logbooks cost about half of what hardback logbooks cost). When you think about the condition of your log after a year of use, however, the hardback option seems like the only logical one to me. Of course, if you leave your log at home where it is safe then even a paperback version will stay in good condition. But in that case, you lose the advantages that come with portability.
The characteristics listed above are crucial considerations when deciding about using a digital or traditional logbook.
The cons:
1. Limitation of data types. This is the chief drawback to paper logbooks; due to the limitations imposed by the physical size of the book’s pages and the need to keep data entry boxes large enough to permit easy writing, the number and variety of data to be entered are necessarily limited. This can be a significant problem if your operation is complex; especially if you fly several machines of the same kind that you want to log separately, or if you are concerned about being able to solve a technical or operational problem using data correlations. Paper logbooks typically are limited to logging flight and/or aircraft maintenance data. Items such as compliance with civil aviation authority directives and exemption application information are only indirectly addressed.
2. Time required to log everything. Since pilot flying data need to be separated from aircraft use and maintenance data, using paper logbooks will require getting two different books; one for your piloting record and one for (each of) your machine(s). This increases your (admittedly small) expense for books and, more significantly, requires considerable time and diligence to log everything properly and completely. Using a digital data service might streamline the data logging process for you, saving time and effort. This is of particular significance for large organizations having several machines and pilots.
3. Perception of being old-fashioned. Among some pilots, operator companies and even clients the use of a paper logbook might seem old-fashioned.
4. Inflexibility. A paper logbook is what it is; that is to say, it cannot mutate to respond to new regulations or the requirements of a given civil aviation authority. One has to take care, therefore, to buy a paper logbook that is as comprehensive as possible – hence ‘future proof,’ to some extent. It would also be good if the logbook has some space for general notes, so as to permit adapting the book in the event of unforeseen future logging requirements.
5. Damageability. A paper logbook has to be cared for in order to remain a permanent record. One also has to avoid misplacing it.
Digital logbooks:
Often called electronic or online logbooks, I will refer to all virtual, computer-based logs as digital logbooks in this post. These are (obviously) relatively new creations compared to paper logbooks. The digital logbooks available today range from free-of-charge, homemade spreadsheets to sophisticated, pay-by-subscription, professionally made logging services. Some of the high-end services offer a truly wide array of possibilities for data entry and manipulation. The pros and cons associated with these logbooks are, in general, a kind of mirror reflection of those associated with paper logbooks.
The pros:
1. Scope. The chief advantage of using a digital logbook is that they (especially the high-end versions) permit you to enter a wider range of data than do paper logs. For example, in addition to simple flight and basic maintenance data entries, in a digital logbook you could (if you buy a sophisticated one) take matters a step further and create maintenance schedules and monitor your progress within such a schedule. You could, additionally, keep track of the flights and maintenance of several aircraft at the same time. The particular range of such advantages depends upon which service you buy.
2. Analysis and output. The higher-end electronic logbooks can produce collations of various data for you so that you can gain an understanding of your operation’s progress that might otherwise escape your notice. For example, one high-end product can track the cost of maintenance associated with a given aircraft.
3. Flexibility. A digital logbook, if the company sponsoring it keeps abreast of changes in logging requirements, can be relatively easily updated to reflect a changed regulatory environment. Curiously, many of the present companies offering such services still seem to think that we live in the COA era (Certificate of Waiver or Authorization under a Section 333 exemption). While it is true that many COAs are still valid and in effect, the new world of drones (at least in the USA) is governed by FAA Part 107. To digress, let me add here what the FAA says about that:
“If you already have a Certificate of Waiver or Authorization under your Section 333 exemption – a “COA” – you can continue to fly under the COA limitations until it expires. If you don’t already have a COA, you probably won’t need one when the new drone rules go into effect.” (https://www.faa.gov/news/updates/?newsId=86285)
The “new drone rules” referred to here by the FAA are the Part 107 regulations, in force since 29 August, 2016. So don’t be led astray by companies touting the opportunity to generate monthly COA reports unless you know in advance that you need that. As a final comment under this subheading, a digital logbook is flexible also in that your use of it can, if you have chosen the right service, grow and change with your/your company’s needs.
4. Possibility of uploading data automatically. Some digital logbooks can save you some logging time and effort by accepting uploads directly from your aircraft.
5. Modernity. Some pilots, operator companies and even clients might consider the use of a digital logbook to be a sign of the modernity of your operation.
6. One-ness. Although not a real word, this made-up term describes the fact that using a high-end electronic logging service might be especially advantageous for companies or pilots that have a lot of aircraft; that is, all of your data can be kept in one (virtual) place, which eliminates the need to maintain and keep track of a lot of (physical) books. Of course, the service you buy under these circumstances had better not ever cease operation, for all of your eggs are in one basket!
The cons:
1. Cost. The better digital logbooks are often far more expensive than are paper logbooks. It is possible, of course, to find cheap or even free digital logs, but they are often amateurishly made and not very comprehensive in scope. The relatively good digital logbook services cost from about $70.00 per year on up, often paid monthly, whether you are actively using the service that month or not.
2. Complexity. Compared to paper logs, electronic logbooks are complicated to use. You will need to spend some time on the company website, perhaps watching how-to videos or reading how-to documents, in order to begin to use the more sophisticated, high-end services. By the very comprehensiveness of the service such sites offer, you may end up spending a lot of time entering flight and maintenance data into their system after each flight.
3. On-the-spot data recording? – perhaps not. Depending upon whether or not your service is accessible offline, you may end up having to record your field data on bits of paper or perhaps on a notepad on your phone before returning to a place in which you have access to the internet (I know of one company that uses paper logs to record on-the-spot data while in the field and then re-logs the data electronically when back at base). Of course, the ability to accept aircraft-memory data directly into your digital logbook helps to mitigate this problem, but again, aircraft do not record everything you may want to keep track of.
4. The possibility of impermanence. Digital data loss due to insufficient or untimely backup or even transmission or recording problems could negatively affect the permanence of your record. Additionally, the ability to edit data after the fact makes the electronic log less of a reliable testimony about a given flight than is a paper log. This is especially significant regarding the data that pertain to an accident or incident.
5. “Show” value? Depending upon circumstances (e.g. availability of the internet, your skill at using the logbook website, a client’s patience) you may find that an electronic logbook is hard to use to give a client a quick brief on your experience and training as a drone pilot.
6. Dependence. You are dependent upon the continued good operation of your logbook provider if you use an electronic logbook. Even if you are able to save results from the use of their log, it will be a big job to re-enter those data into a new program if the one you use becomes non-supported. Do you know of any small online businesses that last forever?
So, digital or traditional logbook?
You must make your own determination about using a digital or traditional logbook based upon your situation, giving due regard to such things as budget, time available, the convenience of use and availability, and your degree of comfort with computer data entry programs.
In a general sense, if you are a big operator with several aircraft it makes a lot of sense to lean in the direction of using an electronic logbook service. You will no doubt benefit from having all of your data at your fingertips, so to speak, as opposed to being dispersed among several paper books. Additionally, in a large operation you may need to make data analyses to determine maintenance and other trends in order to stay ahead of problems. Such an activity would be easier using a high-end electronic service.
If however, you are not that type of operator you may be better off using paper logbooks, due to their low cost, ease of use, portability, convenience in the field, permanence and show value. Just be sure, if you buy one, to maximize your benefits by buying a hardcover version.
Another first for Parhelion Aerospace!
In order to provide drone operators with the benefits of using a digital logbook, but at the same time avoid most of the detrimental aspects, we at Parhelion Aerospace have created a downloadable, stand-alone, fillable PDF version of our flagship logbook, titled the UAV Pilot Logbook Pro Digital Edition.
This digital product, once downloaded onto your computer, becomes as independent as a paper logbook, that is, no subscription and no internet connection are required to use it. You get to skip the monthly subscription payments too, by purchasing the download at the same price that you would have paid for the hardcover version of the same book.
It looks and works like a regular logbook instead of like a computer program, so there is next to nothing that you have to learn to use it. When you enter takeoff and landing times for a given flight, the PDF document automatically calculates elapsed time and populates the book with this figure in the appropriate places. Totals of all flight times are automatically calculated and displayed on each page, and the page totals are automatically transferred over to the following page, making it easy to avoid addition errors and guaranteeing that a running total continues through out the book.
There is nothing like it available anywhere else today.
You can buy the UAV Pilot Logbook Pro Digital Edition on our website, in our Store. To read about it and to see list of specs and limitations, go here.
To review or buy paper logbooks that reflect the criteria stated in this article, click on UAV Logbooks.
Parhelion Aerospace is your guide to successful logging.