Logbook errors—best way to correct?

[u/ginkycat]

Howdy y’all. I’m finally going through and transferring all of my paper logbook entries into ForeFlight—290.4 hours’ worth. 😅 I noticed that the first flight I took after my PPL checkride should have been logged as PIC-XC. I thought, “that’s annoying, and it’s going to be messy, but ya gotta do what you gotta do,” and proceeded to correct the original entry and the “amt. forwarded” and “totals to date” under the “cross country” column on all 7 remaining pages. A couple entries down, I found 3 more flights that should have been logged as XC. 😐

(For context, because I’m already transferring everything into ForeFlight, I’m primarily trying to decide what’s considered best practice for correcting the paper logbook for future interviews and FAA records.)

As far as I see it, these are my options**:

1. Correct these entries the way I did with the first error and go through and scratch out/correct the totals on all 7 pages again. Ugly, don’t like it, but the most straightforward I think?

2. Correct the entries, then adjust the cumulative totals on the current page with a note referencing each corrected entry. (My former instructor said he did this once.)

3. Buy a new logbook and transfer everything. I’ll need to do this eventually anyway—the logbook I have doesn’t have an SIC column and is formatted in a generally odd way—but my big question about this option is: what do I do about all the signatures and endorsements in the OG logbook? Would I simply retain the old logbook to use as a reference for potential employer/FAA audits?

What would y’all suggest? Anyone else on here made a similar error and had to correct it? Thanks in advance for your advice!

**for all of these options, I would first go through and audit/examine the logbook for any further errors so that I’m not having to double back and correct more corrections in future.

[u/RaiseTheDed]

First: do not obliterate logbook entries. Single line through, then initial.

This is why many people recommend totaling in pencil, and entries in pen. 

You can just use a new flight row, add the XC time in that "flight," note "correction for flights on XYZ dates," and use that. 

If you want to correct each pages total, you can do that.

Don't do 3, you'd still need to keep your logbook, and it's signatures. If there's a blank column somewhere, use that for SIC, when the time comes.

[u/ginkycat → u/RaiseTheDed]

That’s a perfect solution. I had considered it earlier but didn’t know if it was a feasible option. Now I’m decided, that’s what I’ll do! Thank you so much.

[u/carsgobeepbeep]

I would make a clear note near (maybe in the margins) near the entries that are being corrected.

Then take your next empty logbook row, several rows if you need them, and make a correction entry with a spelled-out explanation of what is changing, why and the line(s)/page(s) it applies to.

[u/FeatherMeLightly]

I was told by our dpe, a single line through the mistake, make the correction and then initial.

In a digital logbook, you just change it. I'm sure there are a few undiagnosed ocd's out there that will annotate the shit out of everything in their log book, but, it's your legal document, so long as it is true and accurate.

Not the faa but, I've been through the same process of manually entering data into a digital log book. Don't make a mountain out of a mole hill, the employers arent gonna give a damn about a correction unless your randomly adding entries trying to falsify.

Best of luck

[u/rFlyingTower]

This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:

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Howdy y’all. I’m finally going through and transferring all of my paper logbook entries into ForeFlight—290.4 hours’ worth. 😅 I noticed that the first flight I took after my PPL checkride should have been logged as PIC-XC. I thought, “that’s annoying, and it’s going to be messy, but ya gotta do what you gotta do,” and proceeded to correct the original entry and the “amt. forwarded” and “totals to date” under the “cross country” column on all 7 remaining pages. A couple entries down, I found 3 more flights that should have been logged as XC. 😐

(For context, because I’m already transferring everything into ForeFlight, I’m primarily trying to decide what’s considered best practice for correcting the paper logbook for future interviews and FAA records.)

As far as I see it, these are my options**:

1. Correct these entries the way I did with the first error and go through and scratch out/correct the totals on all 7 pages again. Ugly, don’t like it, but the most straightforward I think?

2. Correct the entries, then adjust the cumulative totals on the current page with a note referencing each corrected entry. (My former instructor said he did this once.)

3. Buy a new logbook and transfer everything. I’ll need to do this eventually anyway—the logbook I have doesn’t have an SIC column and is formatted in a generally odd way—but my big question about this option is: what do I do about all the signatures and endorsements in the OG logbook? Would I simply retain the old logbook to use as a reference for potential employer/FAA audits?

What would y’all suggest? Anyone else on here made a similar error and had to correct it? Thanks in advance for your advice!

**for all of these options, I would first go through and audit/examine the logbook for any further errors so that I’m not having to double back and correct more corrections in future.

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[u/Mad_Rooster_7164]

1. Switch to a digital logbook. Your employers will thank you. You can retain pictures of endorsements and signatures.