Scanning Aircraft Logbooks

[OkieAviator]

I was on conference calls most the day and decided to use that time and my copy/scanner/printer/coffee machine and make pdf scans of my Airplane's logbooks.

My actual maintenance binder is 4" thick, organized into several categories and fairly organized. It's taken me 2.5 hours to scan in 3 engine logs, 3 air frame logs and what appears to be a propeller log. This prompted me to come up with a few questions-

1) This is a fixed pitch propeller, the logbook contains entries since installation in 1984 to 2000. All the entries for the most part just state the date, tach time and that the A&P certify "the propeller has been inspecting IAW 100 hour..." However the last entry being 2000, did it become unnecessary to log a propeller inspection separately? The next item is a receipt stating that the propeller was dressed and painted in 2012.

2) Are these typically what people scan as backups or do they scan their AD printouts, oil analysis, STCs, ect?

 

[ahkahn]

I was on conference calls most the day and decided to use that time and my copy/scanner/printer/coffee machine and make pdf scans of my Airplane's logbooks.

My actual maintenance binder is 4" thick, organized into several categories and fairly organized. It's taken me 2.5 hours to scan in 3 engine logs, 3 air frame logs and what appears to be a propeller log. This prompted me to come up with a few questions-

1) This is a fixed pitch propeller, the logbook contains entries since installation in 1984 to 2000. All the entries for the most part just state the date, tach time and that the A&P certify "the propeller has been inspecting IAW 100 hour..." However the last entry being 2000, did it become unnecessary to log a propeller inspection separately? The next item is a receipt stating that the propeller was dressed and painted in 2012.

2) Are these typically what people scan as backups or do they scan their AD printouts, oil analysis, STCs, ect?

I looked through my logbooks and didn't see anything in the prop log other than the overhaul.

As for scanning the AD's, I have a separate AD binder that has a printout of every AD, separated by airframe/engine/prop, then sorted in chronological order, and the front of the binder has a compliance log with recurring dates, compliance dates, and next due. Each AD is then signed off on within their respective logbooks. The AD binder is about 2" thick and was printed out by my A&P.

 

[timwinters]

For future reference, I found that it's far quicker to use a digital camera than a scanner....

...at least my scanner.

 

[James331]

Good on ya


I've scanned every log, 337, STC, yellow tag, big ticket receipt, etc, I also store every oil analysis. All in the cloud.

 

[Pilawt]

Good on ya


I've scanned every log, 337, STC, yellow tag, big ticket receipt, etc, I also store every oil analysis. All in the cloud.

I also save the pdf of the scanned logbooks onto an SD card that stays in the glove box. If I'm AOG in some prehistoric backwater without an internet connection, there's still something to show the local mechanic.

 

[tinerj]

Camera for me, too. Faster and with just as much resolution.

 

[James331]

Camera for me, too. Faster and with just as much resolution.

True.

Only reason I used the scanner on my log books was due to it producing a flatter image.

Did the DSLR thing on my first pilot log book, you can read it just fine, but it's not what I would want if I were to be forced to print it and make a replacement book, very hard to keep the pages flat all the way to the spine.

The scanners take longer with bound books, but I think the quality it better, and for loose pages, STCs, 337s and what not, I just load them on top and it zips through all of them way faster than you could with a camera.

 

[OkieAviator]

I think if I used the camera it would of taken me longer, then there's some post formatting to get it into a pdf. I'll do the STCs and loose sheets the way James just mentioned.

I'm also putting together a excel sheet now just to track installation and maintenance of certain parts... vacuum pump, mags, starter ect. All this info is in the logbooks but this will give me a quick reference if I say want to know how many hours are on each mag.

 

[baboss]

I'm also putting together a excel sheet now just to track installation and maintenance of certain parts... vacuum pump, mags, starter ect. All this info is in the logbooks but this will give me a quick reference if I say want to know how many hours are on each mag.

Kind of what I did. I have a spreadsheet called Component History with a sheet for each component (like alternator, starter, etc.) to keep track of install/uninstall/maintenance/overhaul. Like you said, a lot easier to reference than logbooks over time.

 

[Pilawt]

I photocopied the logs onto 8-1/2 x 11 sheets then ran them through the high-speed pdf scanner at the office. I keep those copies in a 3-ring binder. When a new page is added I can just photocopy it and add it to the pdf.

 

[taters]

I found tinyscan to be great on an Ipad..makes it in all into a quickly editable PDF file as well which is nice if you have to go back and add a page..
I do
Airframe
Engine
Prop/Avionics if applicable
AD list from the last few years
W/B

 

[taters]

I found tinyscan to be great on an Ipad..makes it in all into a quickly editable PDF file as well which is nice if you have to go back and add a page..
I do
Airframe
Engine
Prop/Avionics if applicable
AD list from the last few years
STC's/337's
W/B