For professional pilots, the logbook is more than a personal journal of flights. It is a legal record of your training, your experience, and your compliance with licensing rules. At some point in your career, an inspector, examiner, or authority will want to see it. A logbook audit can happen during a license renewal, a checkride, or even an airline recruitment process.
The good news is that if you know what regulators look for and maintain your logbook properly, an audit does not have to be stressful. In this article we explain what inspectors check, the most common problems they find, and how you can prepare your logbook so that it is always audit-ready.
Why logbook audits matter
Under both EASA and FAA regulations, pilots must maintain a logbook that is complete, accurate, and durable. Inspectors use the logbook to verify that:
You meet the minimum experience for certificates, ratings, or renewals.
Your recent experience and recency requirements are documented.
Your training flights, checkrides, and simulator sessions are properly endorsed.
Your flight hours are consistent with your claims on applications or reports.
A poor logbook can delay your license, require additional training, or raise doubts about your integrity as a pilot.
What inspectors check in a pilot logbook
Continuity and completeness
Authorities want to see that your logbook tells a continuous story. Long gaps without explanation, missing entries, or inconsistent totals are red flags.
Required details
Every entry must contain the required information: date, aircraft type and registration, departure and arrival points, times, pilot function (PIC, co-pilot, dual, instructor, examiner), and operational conditions (day, night, IFR, VFR).
Signatures and endorsements
For EASA pilots, PICUS (pilot in command under supervision), SPIC (student pilot in command), and instructional flights require countersignatures. FAA pilots must also log endorsements for solo flights, checkrides, and proficiency checks. Missing signatures are a common reason for problems during an audit.
Consistency of totals
Examiners will often check whether your total PIC time, instrument time, or cross-country hours add up correctly. If your summaries do not match your entries, you will be asked to recalculate or provide explanations.
Acceptable format
Under EASA AMC1 FCL.050, the logbook must be kept in a durable format. Paper is still accepted, but electronic logbooks are permitted if they provide the same level of reliability and traceability. The FAA also allows electronic logbooks as long as they can be presented in a legible format when required.
Frequent mistakes found in logbook audits
Inconsistent entry style – some flights with complete data, others with minimal details.
Unreadable handwriting – paper logbooks that examiners cannot easily interpret.
Missing countersignatures – especially for training flights, PICUS, or checkrides.
Incorrect role logging – logging PIC when you were actually dual, or co-pilot when PICUS would apply.
Totals not updated – accumulated hours not carried over correctly.
Generic remarks – “local flight” instead of specifying cross-country, instrument approach, or night conditions.
Late entries – trying to fill in several weeks’ worth of flights from memory, leading to errors.
Each of these problems can make an inspector question the reliability of your entire logbook.
How to prepare your logbook for inspection
Update promptly – record every flight immediately or at least the same day.
Audit yourself – once a month, review your logbook as if you were the inspector.
Check totals – make sure PIC, instrument, cross-country, and night hours add up correctly.
Keep signatures current – never delay collecting an instructor or examiner countersignature.
Be specific in remarks – write “Night VFR cross-country, 2 instrument approaches” instead of “training flight.”
Back up your records – keep copies of paper logbooks or digital backups to avoid loss.
Use one consistent format – avoid switching between styles or multiple incomplete logbooks.
How Wilco makes audits and inspections effortless
Wilco is designed to do more than just store your flight hours. It actively helps you stay compliant and prepared for any audit or inspection:
Track currencies automatically – keep records such as Type Rating validity, Operator Proficiency Checks (OPC), Line Checks, and medical expiry dates in one place.
Generate professional reports – create custom reports for examiners, authorities, or employers with just a few clicks.
Export PDF logbooks – Wilco can generate a full, print-ready PDF logbook that complies with EASA FCL.050 requirements. This means you always have an audit-ready version available, exactly in the format inspectors expect.
One-click summaries – filter by aircraft type, period, or flight role to provide clear evidence during a license renewal or job application.
Error prevention – built-in checks flag missing data, signatures, or incorrect totals before they become a problem.
Instead of stressing over paperwork, you can walk into any inspection confident that your logbook is complete, compliant, and professionally presented.
Conclusion
Logbook audits are a normal part of every pilot’s career. Inspectors are not trying to make life difficult, but they do expect your logbook to be accurate, complete, and compliant with the rules. By understanding what they are looking for, avoiding common mistakes, and using a tool that keeps you audit-ready, you can turn inspections into a simple formality.
With Wilco, you always have a professional logbook at your fingertips. From automatic currency tracking to FCL.050-compliant PDF exports, you are fully prepared for any check, inspection, or job application. Your flying deserves a logbook that works as hard as you do.