Best logbook software for CFI

tcco94

tcco94

Future GTA VI Pilot
Now that I'm a CFI, I want some protection for my hours and I know there's tons of different websites and some are easily useable and some you can upload your airline schedule onto and etc....

I want to do this on my computer and then also have a phone app.

I'm also a poor college grad pilot like every other pilot so what's the best deal for the best price? I see some websites with standard, and pro, and pro limited "you're the best pilot option"....just thought I'd ask some experienced guys that have gone the CFI route/other gigs and then onto bigger professional careers...

Also, do any of these softwares let you log and keep track of the endorsements I give?

Thanks in advance!
 
Keep in mind that, as a CFI you also should be tracking WHAT you did with your students and who you've signed off (for renewing your CFI). Excel works well for this and is free (assuming you have excel on your computer). Eventually, when you aren't a poor CFI, you can import all the time from excel into the fancy logbook of your choosing.
 
It depends on what kind of flight instructor you're going to be. If you're at the big college 141 program, excel may be enough. If you 're more independent and instructing in a wider variety of aircraft, then one of the log book apps may be what you need.

I swear by Log Ten Pro, but I seem to always get questions like "How many night instrument hours in a Grumman Tiger do you have?" But if it's going to be the school fleet then on to the regionals, I wouldn't spend the money.
 
Start with your airman report; mine cost me nine bucks and "insures" my hours through 2011 (the 8710 for my MEI check ride). Also, if you've attended any 141/142 programs, get a copy of your records (free).

Beyond that, I just Google Doc it. A list of all endorsements I have written, and a spreadsheet of my own hours.
 
I use excel. I originally downloaded it for free, and have since tweaked it for me. It has a few pages, that imports info into an 8710.
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1445342575.079502.jpg
 
Excel

Cheap, and easily modifiable as you progress and have different needs. A lot of the stuff you need to track early in your career is irrelevant later, also you might want to start logging a category later on that you didn't in the beginning.

Email it to your folks every six months for a cheap simple backup.
 
I use logbook pro. I can log a flight in 20-30 seconds while it's in my short term memory walking back from the airplane. It's not the cheapest option, but the mobile app is where it's at. I switched right after my CFI test and never looked back.
 
I use www.myflightbook.com. It's free, also has an iPhone/iPad app. Another nice bonus is you can download an excel file as a back up. It also allows you to store image files, which I have used to store copies of my own endorsements as well as endorsements I've given to my students. It's not as fancy as some of the other paid apps/programs, but for something that is free I think it works pretty well.
 
So you excel guys do that even at the airlines and stuff? I would have assumed the bigger professional gigs would use some type of software because you can easily import your hours...but I am pleasantly surprised!

@CUTigerPilot I actually used that software only for my private and instrument so I've got at least like 90 hours logged on there. I didn't mind it but wasn't sure if it was a good place to log my hours or if it was some cheap way. I could always go back to that and then save an excel document every now and then. Gives me double the protection with the website and excel document if something goes wrong with them.
 
tcco94 said:
So you excel guys do that even at the airlines and stuff? I would have assumed the bigger professional gigs would use some type of software because you can easily import your hours...but I am pleasantly surprised!

@CUTigerPilot I actually used that software only for my private and instrument so I've got at least like 90 hours logged on there. I didn't mind it but wasn't sure if it was a good place to log my hours or if it was some cheap way. I could always go back to that and then save an excel document every now and then. Gives me double the protection with the website and excel document if something goes wrong with them.
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I've got about 550 hours logged with it so far. Few of us use it at the flight school I'm at. There are surely 'prettier' versions out there, and even some that have more customization. But for what I need it to do right now, it works just fine. Just find something that is easy for you to use and that you like; go with that!
 
BarbieDreamPilot said:
I use logbook pro. I can log a flight in 20-30 seconds while it's in my short term memory walking back from the airplane. It's not the cheapest option, but the mobile app is where it's at. I switched right after my CFI test and never looked back.
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Which Logbook pro subscription do you have? I see the basic one is only $70 compared to enterprise edition at $150?

I don't have excel on my computer unfortunately after I updated to Windows 10.

Has anyone tried Zululog before? Or heard anything about that software as well?
 
I have the base and the mobile add on. Every time I close the desktop app it prompts me to save a backup to a dropbox folder, so it's like cloud without paying for a cloud.

Don't have excel and you're broke? Sharing is caring!
 
BobDDuck said:
Keep in mind that, as a CFI you also should be tracking WHAT you did with your students and who you've signed off (for renewing your CFI). Excel works well for this and is free (assuming you have excel on your computer). Eventually, when you aren't a poor CFI, you can import all the time from excel into the fancy logbook of your choosing.
Click to expand...

I too use Excel for my log book, it's backed up to Mozy each night . Assuming you can set up simple Excel formulas you never find one that fits your needs better.
 
mshunter said:
I still use a pen and a book. It's not difficult. And I never have to worry about the file becoming corrupted.
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The only problem with pen and paper as I have seen is it gets stolen, lost in moves, damaged by floods, animals etc. E-logs are good backup for that data especially when you back them offsite. Also some e-logs make filling out all those airlines and insurance apps quick and easy with their reporting systems.
 
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