Logging in with logbook apps

One of the first items you receive when you begin your flying lessons is a logbook, and it's a treasured item throughout your years of flying. Many have a hardbound book to log their flights and track their progress. But thanks to smartphones and tablets, that task can be done digitally by five of the apps highlighted below. These are not endorsements of any app.

MyFlightbook (free in iTunes and Google Play)—Users can access their logbook using this smartphone app or via a mobile Web browser. The app has four sections: logbook, which is the primary page that offers flying totals and allows searches and data downloads or imports; aircraft, where users can edit and view aircraft flown; airports, where users can view flight routes, search for FBOs and weather, and add new airports; and profile, which includes dates of last flight review and medical, and allows for instructor endorsements.

AvConnect Lite (free in iTunes; paid Pro version is also available)—This smartphone/tablet app has features including GPS tracking and flight confirmation, 3-D flight path via Google Earth, automatic data-to-Web account synchronization, complete pilot logbook record-keeping, and automatic FAA flight download.

Pilot Logbook ($9.99 in the Windows store)—Users of this smartphone app can add, update, and view trips, aircraft, currency, and flight information. It backs up in the cloud, so users can access reports from the smartphone or their personal computer. It also allows users to generate printable reports ranging from basic summaries to an entire logbook.

Pilot eLog (free in Google Play)—This smartphone app looks very similar to the paper logbooks with which pilots are familiar. It offers 17 different reports and endorsements, online links to the FAA and federal aviation regulations, complete text to many logbook-related regulations, and the ability to move between Windows and Mac.

iLogbook ($5.99 in iTunes)—This iPhone app allows users to record their flights while at the airport, then later export them to a personal computer to add into a spreadsheet or electronic logbook program. It exports data in CSV (comma separated values) or HTML table format so it can be directly imported into Excel spreadsheets and other logbook programs.

This week’s column included a nice mix of iOS, Android, and Windows apps, so please keep sending your favorites here. I’m also looking for apps covering FBOs/services, games, maintenance, and radar, along with submissions from aviation developers. See a complete list of apps highlighted here.