You must keep a logbook if you hold a flight crew licence or certificate of validation. Your logbook is an official record of your aeronautical experience and can be paper or electronic.
All logbook entries must be accurate. It is an offence to make a false or misleading entry.
Record keeping
After completing each flight, you must record:
- the date the flight began
- the aircraft type
- whether the aircraft was single-engine or multi-engine
- the nationality and registration marks of the aircraft
- the take-off and landing points for the flight and each segment of the flight
- whether the flight was by day or night, or both
- any instrument flight time
- whether you conducted an instrument approach and, if so, the type of instrument approach procedure
- if the flight was a community service flight (and any relevant details).
You must also record whether you operated the aircraft as a:
- pilot in command (PIC)
- co-pilot
- pilot in command under supervision (PICUS)
- pilot receiving flight training.
If you are a:
- flight instructor - you must record any flight time spent using your flight instructor rating
- flight examiner - you must record any flight time spent using your flight examiner rating.
Logbooks may vary in layout and format. You can:
- buy a hard-copy logbook
- create your own
- use an electronic program or app.
Definition of flight time
Record your flight time from when the aircraft begins moving (under its own power or not) until it comes to rest at the end of the flight.
Logging flight time in different capacities
Log your flight time in the correct capacity to ensure your records accurately reflect your experience and meet licence and rating requirements.
Pilot in command
PIC time is the duration of a flight for which you are the pilot in command of the aircraft. Only one pilot can log PIC for any given flight.
Pilot in command under supervision
You can log a flight as PICUS if you hold a pilot licence, perform all PIC duties and one of the following applies:
- An operator with training and checking responsibilities conducts the flight and authorised the PIC to supervise you.
- You fly under the supervision of a flight instructor or flight examiner, but you do not receive flight training.
For example, if you do not receive training during a flight review, record flight time as PICUS provided you carry out all PIC duties during the flight review. If the flight review requires flight training, log it as dual (pilot receiving flight training).
This also applies to endorsement check flights and flight tests.
Record flight time as PICUS if you:
- undergo assessment rather than training
- perform all PIC duties.
Dual (pilot receiving flight training)
Record flight time as dual when you receive flight training from a flight instructor. This includes any part of a flight review where you receive training (not just assessment).
Co-pilot
Co-pilot flight time refers to time flown in aircraft that must be operated by at least 2 pilots.
In a single-pilot certified aircraft, a second pilot on board does not automatically have a loggable capacity unless they are either:
- PIC
- PICUS
- receiving flight training.
Flights with a second pilot on board
When 2 pilots fly together in a single-pilot certified aircraft, each must log only the role they carried out.
- You can only designate one pilot as PIC and log PIC time.
- A second pilot who is not PIC and is not receiving instruction cannot log flight time.
- A flight instructor providing instruction may log PIC time. The other pilot may log dual time.
- If one pilot acts as a safety pilot (by keeping a visual lookout), the pilots should agree before the flight who will be the PIC. The safety pilot can only log PIC time if they are the designated PIC.
Simulated instrument flight and instrument time
You can log instrument flight time only when you:
- fly by sole reference to instruments
- have authorisation to conduct the flight.
This applies when flying under the instrument flight rules (IFR) or in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC).
You can log simulated instrument flight time when you are flying by sole reference to instruments while using a view-limiting device, such as a hood or foggles.
If you receive instrument flight training from a flight instructor, you can record flight time as dual instrument time. The flight instructor can also log instructor time for the period they provide training.
A safety pilot whose role is only to maintain a lookout is not providing flight training and cannot log dual instrument time. A safety pilot can log flight time only in a role permitted under Part 61, such as pilot in command (PIC) if they are the designated PIC for the flight.
VH-registered aircraft
All flight time in a VH-registered aircraft, including dual instruction, counts towards total aeronautical experience. This includes time in light-sport aircraft and amateur-built aircraft. You must record the aircraft type for every flight.
Recording overseas flight hours
Record overseas flight hours using the Australian pilot capacity that matches the role you performed.
For example:
- pilot in command (PIC)
- co-pilot
- pilot in command under supervision (PICUS).
If you want to use overseas experience towards an Australian licence, rating or endorsement, see recognising foreign flight experience.
Keeping your logbook records
You must retain your logbook for 7 years from the last date of entry, with each entry unaltered through this period.
We may ask you to correct an entry in your logbook. You must do so within 14 days of receiving the notice.
Lost logbooks
You may be able to reconstruct your flying history in a new logbook using other records. This could include organisational or operational records from your flying school or employer.
You will need to make a statutory declaration for any records entered in a new logbook.
We do not hold logbook information for individuals.
You can view your licence and category ratings and endorsements in the myCASA portal. Find out how to view and download your digital licence.
You can also request a reprint of your printed licence in myCASA.
Requirements for providing your logbook
We may direct you to produce your logbook for inspection. You must provide your logbook within 7 days of the notification.
If you keep your logbook in electronic form, you must produce a printed copy of the logbook. You must certify each page as a true copy of your logbook.
More information on logbooks is in our Part 61 Flight crew licensing plain English guide.