I know this might sound crazy - but .....

I have been keeping two logbooks. One I call my "official" logbook and the other I call my "unofficial" logbook journal. The official logbook is the one that I have had all my instructors sign, endorse, etc. Then I copy these entries (word for word) into the unofficial logbook along with all my comments, reflections and learning experiences of any given flight. I'm a bit of a romantic I guess. I like to record everything from: "Wow, what a wonderful sunset" to "Sheeesh, next time I won't taxi to close to that 737."

The official logbook I keep with my flight bag or on my person whenever I fly and leave the other logbook behind. I keep my medical and pilot certificate tapped in my official logbook.

- Do I have to have my "official" logbook with me when I fly?

- And if I should ever loose the official logbook, would the unofficial second logbook be honored by the FAA?

Thanks,

Steve
PP-ASEL

The only time your logbook needs to be with you is when you are a student pilot flying solo.

Otherwise, you need to carry your pilot certificate (or temporary certificate) and your medical every time you fly as PIC.

As far as losing the logbook, if you have any "ratings in progress" you should get your instructor to endorse those. Other things like a complex/high performance/tailwheel endorsement you should probably have another endorsement done. Once you've got the rating, there's no need to prove anything.

Right - and all you need to be ABLE to do is provide your logbook (or record) within a reasonable time if the FAA (or someone else) asks for it.

Of course, you could keep it on AeroPlanner, and have it wherever you go. That's what I did.

Kelly

The only reason you should carry your logbook is perhaps if you get ramp checked and the FAA person wants to see your endorsement for the a/c you're flying and whether (if a student pilot) you're cleared to land at that particular aiport.

If you're going for a certain endorsement (float, commercial) you'd want to track that. Other than that, if you have a PPL you really don't have to carry your logbook with you.

I do but it's only for a convenience since I write up my flights when I'm done with my plane.

pj

p.s. - re: official and un-official logbook.

Both logbooks have to have whatever endorsements you need to fly signed off by a CFI - so you'll have to have your CFI sign two of them.

pj

I've always kept personal notes in my logbook- about the weather, who I was carrying, the two bears I saw fighting on the ground, or the Canada goose that almost became pate' foi gras in my right prop (missed him!), or what I was practicing.While I had my official entries such as check rides or instrument /night hours in the book and signed if needed, there is no rule that I know of that says you can't write whatever you want in the remarks column.
Its kind of neat 30 years later to open one of my old logs and remember via my notes that I flew with world-famous Bush Pilot Don Sheldon from Talkeetna to Anchorage in his brand new 185 when my wife went into premature labor with our second daughter- he had a bum arm and let me drive. (My wife always accused me of being more interested in the new plane than her labor pains, which was true.)