Simviation Forums

There was a thread a few weeks back....someone was having problems with the "log book" feature in FS9...at any rate, I find it a little lacking....and in the same thread someone suggested that you should make your own...that I have done!  I have four questions:

1. When do you start counting aircraft time...only in the air or at the moment you start up and taxi?

2.  Also do you count the hours in one type of aircraft or are they a combination of all types of aircraft flown?  Example: Mooney Bravo ~ 150hrs   Piper J-3 ~ 50hrs total 200hrs etc.?

3.  What information is the most important to have in your log book? (I know your name would help)  :D

4. I'm sure you can purchase log books already printed and if so where?

4. I'm sure you can purchase log books already printed and if so where?

At most any airport that has flight training, and any Pilot supply shop. Google "pilot supplies" and you'll find hundreds of sources.

what is a log book anyway?

I picked up one from the local airport for $10. Got tired of the FS log book. What good is a log book that you can't view?

As for the questions.

1. I've always counted time from when I start the airplane to when I shut it down. There isn't much difference anyway and your log book is for recording time operating the aircraft. My instructor never said anything about doing it this way so I assume it's OK.

2. The Standard Log Book has a section for recording aircraft category such as Single Engine Land, Multi Engine Land etc. There are colums that allow you to carry the total over or just count up the time per type.

3. The first page or so has places to record your name (yep youre right), address, certificates and ratings.

The log pages include lines for date, aircraft make and model, tail number, origination, destination, remarks or maneuvers, aircraft category, conditions of flight and type of piloting time (Dual instruction or PIC).

I go by the Hobbs meter. Engine startup to shutdown. I sat 20 minutes on the ramp waiting for an IFR clearance once. Not only do I log the time, I pay for the operating costs while idling. Aircraft rental is by the Hobb hour, not by the fuel used. So might as well fly fast, eh?

7quicksilver ~ The "Pilots Log Book" is for keeping your flying records as MattNW did a great job of explaining.  The reason I started my own is that many times FS9 screws up the log or I do because of "opperator error" therefore it is a good idea to keep your own hard copy.  

MattNW ~ Thanks for the detailed information on the log book....very helpful.  I have everything you stated above included in my log book except for:  Single Engine Land and Multi Engine Land etc.  I will include these and also a section for remarks.  I also have not been counting my startup, taxi and shutdown times.  

flaminghotsauce ~ Is the Hobbs Meter that you mentioned used to log engine time on aircraft?  Boy! your right.....a pilot could log a bunch of ground hours and never leave the runway!  Some of the taxi ways in FS9 are looooooong!!  I wonder where the longest taxi way is and just how long it is, I think some of them must be a mile or two.  I know some of the waiting times for takeoff clearance are very lengthly!  

fretnstuff ~ Thanks for the tip on finding a log book.  
I just happened to find a great site with a ton of information on just about everything concerning aviation.  It has links to Aviation News, Weather, Pilot Jobs Online, Flight Planning, Aviation Events, Fuel Information, Airline Information (including call signs), Airport Information USA & World, Heliports, Military etc.,
and they even have Terminal Layouts with parking! And thats just the tip of the iceberg!  I found the log book under Pilot Supplies....$5.95 to $26.95...great site.
http://www.pilotpointer.com

Pilots Log Book is for recording time in the Air. When you take off from any controlled Airport, your airborne time is recorded and can be retrieved upon request by the pilot. Now then, this raises a qusetion, as IRL, Simulator time is recorded from the time the Simulator is started to shut down. Therefore, if you are using a hard copy log book, you should record your simulator experience as "Sim" and from the time you start your FS at "Fly now." If you are using a software generated log book for FS 9, then you should use the airborne times only. However, this is where MS falls short. In all previous versions, the logbook was recorded automatically and could then be edited, however, I don't see how you can do this in FS 9. I have put my sim flight on "pause" for 8 hours at a time and that's the time FS 9 has recorded for me.  ???

Logjam ~ You are right.....I have never been able to get the FS9 log book to work right.    I gave up and decided the only way to avoid all the hassle was my own hard copy....sometimes nothing beats a pencil.  I also use a "greese pencil" and write the runway number down on my computer screen when I receive it from ATC. Then wipe it off after shutdown.

It is kind of neat to have a physical log book because I log in all of the airports I have visited and their call letters, great reference.  8)  Logjam: Just wondering what the 8 hours on pause accomplish?

Here, maybe this will help. As long as you don't use the image to make copies off of (just reproduce the text and lines using a paint program) it should be fair use.

Excellent MattNW!  Thank you so very much...I will not make copys of it and I promise that I will only use the text and format.    I only have one question....under "Type of Piloting Time" it lists "Pilot in Command" and "Dual" something.....I can't quite make out the word?  

Thank you again for your help, I really appreciate it.  ;)

You know that there are a couple of flight plan and logging excel spreedsheets for download?
I think they are here under "MISC" or "UTILITIES"

[quote]I gave up and decided the only way to avoid all the hassle was my own hard copy....sometimes nothing beats a pencil.

Kneeboard.....great idea JBaymore.  I guess you know what kind of monitor I have....."the old type"....cause a greese pencil would really mess up an lcd screen! Especially the orange greese pencil  that I use!  Would love to have about a 21" lcd screen....would be sweet.  Oh, well...someday.  Spending money on a new graphics card and expanding the memory on my PC...so FS9 will be even better for me.  You know I just had a thought....wouldn't it be great if someone came up with a Sim Shop....where you could purchase items just like the kneeboard you mentioned, maps, plotters, a simulator log book designed just for sim pilots?  You know there are enough great ideas in this forum to fill a dozen books about "microsoft flight simulator" and a book like that would sell a few copys.  It would give more help then microsoft ever thought of!  Just dreaming......  

Thanks for the tip fretnstuff...I will check out the "MISC" and "UTILITIES".  

 

This is for Corbin! Have you ever fallen asleep at the computer? Well, if you do, and wake up deciding you ain't gonna play FS no more, but you have the faculties to close it down properly. Then FS will record you an extra amount of sleep time. In my case it's been 8 hours, especially when the wheelchair's oxy supply runs out.