PIREPs and Flight Logs/Journals

[Xyn_Air]

I would like to start with a disclaimer that while I may make mention of what I am doing in Flight Simulator, my questions relate to what real pilots do in the real world.  That is, I am trying to model some of what I do in recreating a piloting experience after what is done by real pilots.  Therefore, any mention of Flight Simulator and related activities is not meant to unduly mix-and-match forums.

What I would like to do is start keeping a flight log or journal of my "serious" flights in Flight Simulator.  I am wondering if real pilots do a similar thing (I am guessing that they do), and if so, what important information do they keep in a flight log?

Some ideas that I had of what might be important information to make note of:

- Departure and Arrival Airports
- Aircraft Flown
- Duration and Time of Flight (e.g. 9 hours 15 minutes; departed @ 13:33, arrived @ 22:48)
- Manifest (Cargo and Passengers . . . though in Flight Simulator, with certain aircraft, this may have to be generalized as gross weight and such; I know the smaller aircraft allow you to adjust the specific number of passengers, but I am not sure about the airliners)
- Weather Conditions
- Times of Instrument and System Checks

I think it obvious that there will be some differences between an actual flight log and what I would do for Flight Simulator.  For example, of an FS flight, I might also make note of:
- My Actual Local Time
- What I did or experienced while using Flight Simulator

Anyway, if anyone could advise me on how to go about keeping an efficient, detailed, and accurate flight log/journal, I would be very appreciative.  I think it is important that I start keeping a record of what I am doing, both so I can track my own progress and also so I can further add depth to my simulation experience.

Thanks for your help!  All the Best!
Darrin

[matt2190]

You should keep track of

Date
Aircraft Make and Model
Aircraft Ident
Departure Airport
Arrival Airport
Duration
# of Takeoffs and Landings
Instrument
Night
Cross Country
Solo
Pilot in Command
Second in Command
Any remarks


EDIT- Feel free to add the ones I forgot

[Brett_Henderson]

Go down to your local airport and pickup a real logbook  

[Mobius]

Definitely go to an airport and pick one up, they'd be more than happy to sell you one probably.  Pick up some charts for where you're flying too, they can be really helpful when flight simulator doesn't supply anything you need.

[beaky]

Go down to your local airport and pickup a real logbook  

Excellent idea... been meaning to get one just for FS, myself.
It's more fun to buy one at an airport, but you can get them online, too.


Once you see one, you'll know what needs to be noted there... I'd just add FS-specific comments to the rest... use as many lines as you like for each entry.

[Splinter562]

In addition to the ones already mentioned, you also log category & class. Most log books have columns for Airplane Single Engine Land and Airplane Multi-Engine Land plus write in columns. In FS you'd probably branch out into water and helicopter classes as well. I personally write in columns for complex and high performance (> 200 hp) because many FBOs and insurance companies require certain minimums for those, so it's nice to have a running total for easy reference. I'd imagine if I had turbine time, I'd write in a column for that too.

[Brett_Henderson]

Get one like this...

http://www.gleim.com/aviation/logbook/flightlog.php

It allows for much more info than a regular logbook.. Click the "right side" and "left side" links to see the pages..

[Xyn_Air]

Thank you, everyone, for all the wonderful advice and suggestions.  I tell, just beyond getting good answers to my questions, it sure does make this interest in aviation even more enjoyable to be able to be part of such a larger community.  Mushy gratitude aside . . .

After I return to the States next year (maybe while in transit, even!), I will definitely look into getting a real logbook from an airport.  Though, my next question would be, who do I purchase one from?  I am imagining that if I walk up to one of the regular ticket counters and ask to buy a logbook I may get some pretty strange looks.  Also, I don't remember seeing pilot logbooks as one of the things they regularly offer at the airport convenience stores.  ;D  So, to save me the trouble and embarrassment of asking a lot of confused strangers about pilot logbooks, can someone point me in the right direction?

A special thanks to Brett.  That website really gave me a clear idea of how I might go about laying out my logbook for now.  Until I can get back to the States, I am going to resort to using a notebook and muddle through and making my own logbook for now.  The Gleim website was pretty clear on what was included in theirs, so that will help me get started.

Matt 2190 also gave me a lot of great information about what goes into a logbook.  Sigh, I only wish I could say I knew all of the terms or their relevance.  Well, thank goodness for flight lessons and glossaries!

One last favor, should anyone have the time or inclination, would someone be willing to either post a scan or type in an example of what they normally put in their logbooks?  I think it would be interesting to see.  Of course, if you are using a copyrighted logbook, DON'T scan that in.  I'm not asking anyone to pirate anything!  I would just like to get an idea of format and such.

Thanks again, everyone!  Great help!

[beaky]

Thank you, everyone, for all the wonderful advice and suggestions.  I tell, just beyond getting good answers to my questions, it sure does make this interest in aviation even more enjoyable to be able to be part of such a larger community.  Mushy gratitude aside . . .

After I return to the States next year (maybe while in transit, even!), I will definitely look into getting a real logbook from an airport.  Though, my next question would be, who do I purchase one from?  I am imagining that if I walk up to one of the regular ticket counters and ask to buy a logbook I may get some pretty strange looks.  Also, I don't remember seeing pilot logbooks as one of the things they regularly offer at the airport convenience stores.  ;D  So, to save me the trouble and embarrassment of asking a lot of confused strangers about pilot logbooks, can someone point me in the right direction?

A special thanks to Brett.  That website really gave me a clear idea of how I might go about laying out my logbook for now.  Until I can get back to the States, I am going to resort to using a notebook and muddle through and making my own logbook for now.  The Gleim website was pretty clear on what was included in theirs, so that will help me get started.

Matt 2190 also gave me a lot of great information about what goes into a logbook.  Sigh, I only wish I could say I knew all of the terms or their relevance.  Well, thank goodness for flight lessons and glossaries!

One last favor, should anyone have the time or inclination, would someone be willing to either post a scan or type in an example of what they normally put in their logbooks?  I think it would be interesting to see.  Of course, if you are using a copyrighted logbook, DON'T scan that in.  I'm not asking anyone to pirate anything!  I would just like to get an idea of format and such.

Thanks again, everyone!  Great help!

I doubt you'll find one at a large airline-type airport, but other than buying one online, you can try any GA airport that has a pilot shop.
Or, when you're in transit, ask any airline flight crew member where you can get one. they may know a place on-site or be able to get you one if they're not too busy.

Speaking of online: try Sporty's:
http://www.sportys.com/pilotshop/

Your other request reminds me that I am way behind in scanning my logbook (as a backup)... if I can remember where I've been putting those files, though, I might post or send you a page or two. There's no set formula, except that it's best to keep it brief and businesslike in the Remarks column (although I'll often put "nice wx" "gusty x-wind" or list the names of any pax on the flight).

[BFMF]

I used an Excell type of spread sheet program to log my flightsim time. It allowed me to add as many fields, and types as I needed, and It could keep a running total of everything

[matt2190]

Your other request reminds me that I am way behind in scanning my logbook (as a backup)... if I can remember where I've been putting those files, though,

Makes you wonder how efficient of a backup system it is if you cant find the backup files.

[Fozzer]

FS 2004:

I'm still on the look-out for a Flight Sim Site that runs a simple PIREP system for filing and logging my on-line (Multiplayer) flights, under my name, and posting the details separately, on the same Site.

By "simple", I mean a PIREP system for filing a flight plan for non-commercial, non-Jet, General Aviation flights over short distances.

WS Pilots provides such a system, but after studying it, it appears to be a complex system aimed for the benefit of Commercial Passenger Jet aircraft long-haul flights!

Example:

Connect to the Server.

Open flight plan at start of flight, on line, via the chat window:

(Pilot's name.)
VFR/IFR.
Aircraft manufacturer and type.
Registration details.
Departure airport.
Destination airport.
Flight altitude.

Close flight plan at end of flight on line.

Close the Sim.

Log on to the Site.

File PIREP on Site.

Repeat the above flight details, plus:

Hours flown.

Navigation details.

Weather en-route.

Comments.

Post PIREP on Site.

Any ideas, Chums.... ...!

[beaky]

The simplest way, I think, is to get a real logbook and just fill that out. You know... I believe they used to call it "writing" or something like that.

[beaky]

Your other request reminds me that I am way behind in scanning my logbook (as a backup)... if I can remember where I've been putting those files, though,

Makes you wonder how efficient of a backup system it is if you cant find the backup files.

Very droll...  ;D

They actually were not hard to find- I just couldn't remember off the top of my head if I'd been putting them on disc yet, or if they were still on the hard drive. Been a while since I've done any work on that project- it's time-consuming.

I wish I hadn't looked- I've only done three (double) pages so far...

If I post the scans, I may have to "blur out" a few things, like some of the signatures, etc. Not that it matters much- a lot of it is difficult to read (one thing CFIs seem to learn early on is how to write very, very small).

[Fozzer]

The simplest way, I think, is to get a real logbook and just fill that out. You know... I believe they used to call it "writing" or something like that.

...very cheeky, I'm sure... ...!

What you may not realise, I have recently left a FS Site, (under a cloud!), which ran a very successful, very simple,  on-line .PIREP system for all the Multiplayer Pilots. Logging every Members flight details, which could be read by other Members, and transferred between FS Sites...Very interesting!

It could be done within Sim V, but it may involve the use of another independent Server running the PIREP system 24/7, and communicating back and forth with main Sim V Site....
..which may involve a financial cost to the main site... ...!

Paul....otherwise, I continue to log all my flights in my Log Book....
..using the age-old "writing" method...pencil and paper....don't ya know... ...!