StartUp161WanaB

Hello.

I am slowly getting back into aviation after taking some time off and applying for my first aviation flying job, CFI. I was counting my hours and breaking them down into diffderent categories for my resume and the numbers did not add up evenly.


Specifically, when I add my single engine and multi engine hours it does not match my TT hours...also, I have a seperate column for adding my FTD times. Is there anything I am doing wrong or is this normal for the hours to not add up evenly.

Tzuk95

Your single and multi should absolutely add up to your TT. Unless you have some glider or lighter than air in there somewhere... You are correct in that FTD time is separate and DOES NOT get included in your TT.

Hope this helps...

Gajre539

Assuming you don't have any LTA, glider, helo, etc. time... Single engine + Multi should equal TT. Also, day + night should equal TT (if you have a day column in your logbook). FTD or PCATD or SIM time does not include TT. TT should only include TOTAL FLIGHT TIME.

Find out where the error is and put a note on the current page. There are many variations:
1) Corrections for calculation error on ##/##/#### or
2) Correction for calculation error on single engine column to reflect additional 1.2 hours logged on ##/##/#### or
3) Correction for calculation error on total time column to reflect additional 1.2 hours from page 22 of logbook 2 (if you have multiple logbooks) logged on ##/##/####.

Everyone makes calculation errors on logbooks, I've done it too and I'm on logbook # 3. When I total up the page on my logbook I now always verify that Single + Multi AND day + night = Total time on every page. This way I don't have to deal with the aggravation of trying to find an error on the last 10+ pages.

If you can't find the error or if you have multiple logbooks, I suggest that you REDUCE the flight time instead of increasing it. For example, if you have 1000 SE and 200 ME but your total time is 1202... AND YOU CAN'T FIND THE ERROR, then decrease the total time to 1200.

I'm tempted to buy an electronic logbook... it's probably something that I'll look into when I start flying 121. Good luck with the CFI job.

N9373M

I use an Excel spreadsheet, mainly to verify the math, keep track of currency, and as a backup. Probably too simple for commercial+ guys, but please get everything electronic and backed up somewhere.

Just out of curiosity, how many log books would a 15 year regional guy/gal have?

StartUp161WanaB

Another fresh start today and went through my logbook page by page. Indeed i found my mistake which gave me a lil boost on my multi-time. now the single and multi times add up evenly on all the pages. i am in the process of putting my information on the electronic logbook.

Also, i am not current with my instrument privileges and i have been flying "under the hood" with a safety pilot. can i log this as simulated time? i am most definite that the answer is NO but just curious and verifying.
one thing i learned after taking some time off is STAY CURRENT, i feel like i am starting my flight training all over again which equals more money...

SiShane

I recently bought an electronic log book because of an error that I couldn't figure out. By going back thru every entry one by one for the electronic; I found my error....I simply put something in the wrong column and carried it over without realizing it. I believe it is well worth the investment and the earlier u start the less painful it will be when you transfer everything. It's a great redundancy now for my paper log. And as everyone knows in aviation; a redundant system is always a good thing!

Gajre539

You need 6 approaches within 6 months in actual or simulated instrument conditions with holds, intercepting and tracking to stay IFR/Instrument current. If you don't have the above within 6 months, you can't fly IFR on your own but you have an additional 6 month "grace period" to get IFR current with a safety pilot or a CFI. After 12 months, you need to fly with a CFII to get an Instrument Competency Check aka Instrument Proficiency Check/IPC.

Can you log your flying as Simulated Instrument time? SURE - as long as you had a safety pilot or any appropriately rated pilot on-board and acting as a safety pilot. Can you use this "Simulated Instrument" time to get current? The answer to your question depends on how many months it has been since you were legal. If it has been 6 months but less than 12 months, you can do all of the stuff in the paragraph above and "get IFR current" since you would be within the 6 month grace period. If it has been 12 months, you can log it as Simulated Instrument, but you can't legally fly IFR/IMC until you get an IPC with a CFII.

A lot of my students/customers fly simulated instrument with their pilot friends before coming to me for an IPC. If the last time someone flew actual/simulated instrument was 4 years ago, there is no way I will be able to give them an IPC endorsement/sign-off because the flight skills just won't be there. Some people prefer to do all the flying for an IPC in a controlled environment with a CFII, even if they are very rusty and need 3-4 flights.

jetstream11

Here is a tip as a CFI that I told all my students...on the Total Columns, amount forward, and new total USE A PENCIL!

Your going to screw up and it's a lot easier to fix using a pencil. Plus with white out, prospective employeers may be curious what you are "hiding' under that white out.

fjetter

Good advice...what I do is use a continuous running scrap piece of paper that I sum up the paper totals and match it to the electronic one for two reasons. Double check my data entry into electronic for mistakes and double check my math for the paper one. Once they all agree then they get entered into the logbook in pen (eraser marks look bad and so does pencil in general). I just keep this paper folded up inside the logbook and keep using it until I need a new one. Saves me a ton of aggravation as I've made plenty of data entry mistakes into e-logbook and calculator mistakes in my paper one, usually not carrying a one or something.

StartUp161WanaB

thank you for the inputs fellas. i actually have quite a few white-outs/eraser marks. overall i think my logbook looks pretty scratchy/unprofessional. this time around i am going to keep it nice and neat with everything updated.(my ppl instructor told me several years back to use a white-out if you have to change any information but makes sure you tab/noted what the change was)

(gajre539)as far as the IFR currency is concerned, last time i did a IFR hold was on 4-23-08 and shot a ILS on 5/18/08. there is my answer.