Interview and Checkrides with Lost Logbook

M

marilynliddell

New Member
Looking for candid advice here...I work at a small regional right now as a captain. I recently had my luggageworks bag snatched out of the overhead compartment of the plane I was operating, and it hasn't turned up in a month. At this point, I've lost hope. Airport police don't have any idea who took it since the security footage is grainy.

In my inifinite wisdom, my original paper logbook was in there. It contained around 2100hrs of flight time right up until the day I got hired at the regionals when I started keeping an electronic logbook. Problem is, I never took photocopies of the paper logbook, so all of the specifics of what was in there are now lost. This amounted to around 2100hrs of flight time. So, in short, I have none of the original logbook entries, or even photocopies of them. Yes, I know I'm an idiot.

Good news is that I read that I can use the 8710 from my type ride at the airline to carry over to the electronic logbook. The negative is that I only can get my hands on specific operator/rental records for around 1300hrs of the 2100hrs that were in the original logbook. I have gone to the ends of the globe at this point to get as much documentation of previous flight time as possible...I was a flight instructor at my previous employer, and I did a lot of odds and ends flying (free intro flights, maintenance flights, safety piloting) that there are absolutley no operator records for. On top of that, a few FBOs I flew at are now shuttered. I was able to track down the owners of one, and they said they had no records of me.

Two things have me worried here...

Number one; is this the kiss of death going into a major interview? I've neatly organize all of the rental/operator records and all previous 8710s that I do have with a nice signed/notarized statement, but I know the airlines like to see original logbooks. How can I work through this? It's been literally keeping me up at night for weeks thinking about how screwed I am.

Number two; what's going to happen on my next type ride when I present my "logbook" to the FAA and I don't have any records for almost half of my flying. Am I liable here? I've been reading through this stuff online and I've seen cases where guys got pinned for intentional falsification just because they couldn't verify their hours with operator records.

Any advice you guys may have, or past experiences with this sort of thing, will definitely help put my mind to rest.
 
Why do pilots think every small thing will screw them over in a interview?

FWIW I don’t have my original logbooks, just a electronic version. I’ve never had any issues in a interview. Reconstruct it as best as possible, and explain the situation in the interview.
 
What flight time does your most recent 8710 cover? Most likely your airline checkride I would assume. Moving forward the airline should have all flight time records that you can get access to. Sounds to me like you’re covered. An 8710 with an explanation is fine. Not comfortable by far, but it is legal. Reconstruct as best you can moving forward.
 
Have a good plan for how you’re going to explain carrying your logbook around as a professional pilot, because the professional pilots interviewing you are undoubtably going to ask.

Aside from that, use your 8710, add in your current operator’s times, and carry on. Your electronic logbook will do all of that. You’re caring way too much about this. A lot of people have gone fully electronic (I’m one of them) and not even taking the paper logbooks to interviews anymore.
 
marilynliddell said:
Number one; is this the kiss of death going into a major interview? I've neatly organize all of the rental/operator records and all previous 8710s that I do have with a nice signed/notarized statement, but I know the airlines like to see original logbooks. How can I work through this? It's been literally keeping me up at night for weeks thinking about how screwed I am.
Click to expand...

My logbook was stolen along with my flight bag years ago. It is pretty much a non-issue (I did have electronic records though).

If any interviewer cares about it, it will be because something you say about it doesn't seem to add up. If you have a police report and an 8710 that substantiates the hours, you are fine. That, plus an electronic log with your time since the last 8710 should satisfy just about anyone. Just put a single entry with the times from the 8170, plus the entries you have to date.
 
FalconNIB said:
Why do pilots think every small thing will screw them over in a interview?
Click to expand...

Because at certain shops, competitive is finishing your four year degree in exactly four years, volunteering on your free time, and not having a spot of lint on your suit at the job fair your paid $600 to attend if you were lucky enough to not be invited.

Basically, it's Stockholm syndrome.
 
what is a logbook? :sarcasm: In all my jobs I have had thus far, I have not been asked to see logbooks.
 
Make sure you file a police report and have that an evidence of the stolen items. Then file a homeowners claim of the lost hours and have them reimburse you for the loss...I’m not serious on that last part....
 
FalconNIB said:
I get that but there are some things that are just out of your control.
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To be fair, with some of the stories we've heard about not getting hired you get on edge if you remotely care about your future airline. I find it justified. I do it to myself all the time.
 
marilynliddell said:
I know the airlines like to see original logbooks.
Click to expand...

If the 121 world is like other sectors, I’m not sure if I agree.

When I had a bit of hiring authority, I wanted to feel confident that a pilot’s experience was accurately described and verifiable.

In addition to following the good advice here about building from your last 8710, I’d get a hold of my previous employers and references and discuss hours obtained on their watch. Memories fail and sometimes friends inflate numbers and enemies deflate numbers. Prepare them to field a call from a prospective employer and give them the bullet points to support your effort.
 
So, here is my take...I showed up to my interview with a bound electric logbook print out, I had only logged monthly totals for like 10 years. I was asked to show what I said I had on my application, 1300TPIC, 6700 TT, etc. nothing big. I also had a summary sheet. They never once flipped through it. I know of guys who have this same issue, and had just one line from an 8710 and a police report. If you have been in this industry, employeed and flying, there is a range of hours, you should have and experience in your times. If that does not pass the smell test then your hosed.
 
A300Capt said:
I have multiple type ratings and nobody ever asked to see a logbook before the ride, only license and medical...
Click to expand...

I think they only do a logbook review for your ATP ride. Other than that, yeah I agree... Multiple types and 121 PIC checkrides, I never even brought my logbook.

At least for the legacies, they seem pretty relaxed with the logbook “review”. I’m assuming that as long as you have a good explanation, you’ll be fine. The only place that even asked me anything about my logbook was Frontier.
 
mshunter said:
Because at certain shops, competitive is finishing your four year degree in exactly four years, volunteering on your free time, and not having a spot of lint on your suit at the job fair your paid $600 to attend if you were lucky enough to not be invited.

Basically, it's Stockholm syndrome.
Click to expand...
Not even remotely true.

O and once you have your ATP no one GAS about your logbook in a type ride. Interview just explain what happened. Easy peasy.
 
Also requesting your airman file from the FAA will give you every piece of paperwork they have on you.
 
marilynliddell said:
Looking for candid advice here...I work at a small regional right now as a captain. I recently had my luggageworks bag snatched out of the overhead compartment of the plane I was operating, and it hasn't turned up in a month. At this point, I've lost hope. Airport police don't have any idea who took it since the security footage is grainy.

In my inifinite wisdom, my original paper logbook was in there. It contained around 2100hrs of flight time right up until the day I got hired at the regionals when I started keeping an electronic logbook. Problem is, I never took photocopies of the paper logbook, so all of the specifics of what was in there are now lost. This amounted to around 2100hrs of flight time. So, in short, I have none of the original logbook entries, or even photocopies of them. Yes, I know I'm an idiot.

Good news is that I read that I can use the 8710 from my type ride at the airline to carry over to the electronic logbook. The negative is that I only can get my hands on specific operator/rental records for around 1300hrs of the 2100hrs that were in the original logbook. I have gone to the ends of the globe at this point to get as much documentation of previous flight time as possible...I was a flight instructor at my previous employer, and I did a lot of odds and ends flying (free intro flights, maintenance flights, safety piloting) that there are absolutley no operator records for. On top of that, a few FBOs I flew at are now shuttered. I was able to track down the owners of one, and they said they had no records of me.

Two things have me worried here...

Number one; is this the kiss of death going into a major interview? I've neatly organize all of the rental/operator records and all previous 8710s that I do have with a nice signed/notarized statement, but I know the airlines like to see original logbooks. How can I work through this? It's been literally keeping me up at night for weeks thinking about how screwed I am.

Number two; what's going to happen on my next type ride when I present my "logbook" to the FAA and I don't have any records for almost half of my flying. Am I liable here? I've been reading through this stuff online and I've seen cases where guys got pinned for intentional falsification just because they couldn't verify their hours with operator records.

Any advice you guys may have, or past experiences with this sort of thing, will definitely help put my mind to rest.
Click to expand...
Its not really a big deal. They know youre good for it if youre a 121 PIC.
 
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