Backing up your aircraft's logs

[kwmoore]

What do you folks do to provide redundant copies of your aircraft/engine logs? When I owned 8367E & 812KT I made periodic xerox copies.

For 812PL I'm thinking to make copies and have at least one stored at PPP. An alternative would be electronic files stored by a 3rd party.

Any thoughts?

On my TBM, the Service Center keeps all the logs and has them all in a PDF format as well off-site. That's how he keeps us all coming back for service! He will make you a copy of everything whenever you want however.

I think having a copy at PPP would be an OK idea (if you planned on them doing your maintenance forever), but I would recommend your maintenance facility. I wish everyone would get into the digital age here as well and go away from paper.

Joe

[keithmo]

Originally Posted by joejenie

I wish everyone would get into the digital age here as well and go away from paper.

Joe

This reminded me of something...

As part of N364C's recent work, the mechanic requested all relevant documents from the FAA. The result was fascinating (to me, at least). He received a CD containing PDF files for every document ever submitted to the FAA for my plane (based on serial number) -- the original bill of sale, every change of address, the change of registration number, 337 forms, etc. This was a total lifesaver, as most of N364C's documents (except for the logbooks) were destroyed a couple of years ago.

One potential problem with having electronic-only logbooks is securing the "signing process". With paper, a mechanic must physically sign the logbook after work is complete. Doing this electronically is definitely possible, but it means logbooks are unlikely to be simple PDF files, and becomes even more difficult if every owner and mechanic is "doing their own thing". (Consider the non-repudiation issues if, after an accident, the owner claims a mechanic signed the digital logs, and the mechanic claims he didn't.)

One possible solution would be for the FAA to maintain the electronic logbooks AND be intimately involved in the signing process.

Of course, giving the FAA raw unfettered access to all logbooks may introduce its own set of problems and concerns...

[keithmo]

Originally Posted by kwmoore

An alternative would be electronic files stored by a 3rd party.

Any thoughts?

I've been thinking about the same thing. I'll probably scan all of my logs (airframe, engine, prop, and my pilot log), burn the documents to a CD, and keep the CD at the bank in my safe deposit box. CDs don't last forever, so I'll probably replace it every year (I'll need to update the documents with recent entries anyway).

I've also thought about encrypting the documents and storing them online somewhere. One option is to email them to a Hotmail or GMail account and let MS or Google store them.

I still do it the old fashioned way.....copy the logs once a quarter and keep them at home.

I do this religously since when I first began flying I kept my log books at the FBO....he failed and there they went....

I only give the copies to the mechanic or FBO doing service. I have them give/mail all log entries to me and I personally post them in the log books.