Logging of flight time (FCL.050)

General (ICAO)

ICAO Annex 1 §1.2.5 requires licence holders to keep reliable records of their flight experience, to be produced to the State on request.

Europe (EASA / EU)

Regulation (EU) 1178/2011 Part-FCL.050 (Recording of flight time) specifies EU-wide:

Obligation:

• Every pilot holding a Part-FCL licence must maintain a reliable record of all flights.
• Form: pilot logbook in paper or approved electronic form (EFB apps with permanent storage).
• Content per flight:
  • Date,
  • Aircraft type and registration mark,
  • Departure and arrival aerodrome,
  • Off-block / on-block times (or take-off / landing),
  • Function on board (PIC, PICUS, co-pilot, SPIC, dual),
  • Number of landings (day/night separated),
  • Flight conditions (day/night, VFR/IFR),
  • Exercise type for training flights,
  • Instructor name for dual flights,
  • Remarks.

Retention:

• At least 5 years after the entry,
• To be produced on inspection by the competent authority.

Signature: Every entry signed by the PIC or instructor (electronic logbooks: appropriate digital form).

Crediting flight time (AMC1 FCL.050):

• PIC time: pilot acts as pilot-in-command — including SPIC time (Student Pilot in Command, with instructor on board but acting as PIC) which may be partially credited as PIC.
• Co-pilot time: multi-pilot operations as second pilot.
• Dual time: student under supervision of an instructor.
• Solo time (student): before licence issue, without instructor.

Block time vs. flight time:

• Block time (off-block to on-block) is recorded for some licences for administrative purposes;
• Flight time (take-off to landing) counts for most EASA experience requirements.
• For aeroplanes, block time is often accepted as flight time ("air time").

Consequences of inaccurate recording: Breach of FCL.050, possible licence revocation; false entry may be prosecuted criminally.

Germany (national)

EU law applies. LBA inspects logbooks during licence renewals, instructor renewals etc. In case of lost or stolen logbook: obtain written replacement confirmations from flight schools or operators.