Digitization of Aircraft Records

[wmvosburgh]

After looking through a FAA aircraft registration/airworthiness cd with a friend that's looking to buy any aircraft with incomplete logs, I've wondered about the preservation of my own aircraft logbooks. I often hear of those stories where the hangar burns, the house burns, whatever burns with the aircraft logs inside. Perhaps they're stolen, lost, dog ate them, whatever...
With the worst possible scenario in mind, what is the best method of preservation of the maintenance life of an airplane? When I sold my 150, I took photos of every log book entry and uploaded them to a dropbox account; from there I could easily share them with potential buyers.
Should the worst occur, do digital photos carry the same weight as the originals?
Just curious as to what other folks have done to preserve the maintenance legacy of these old birds we're caring for.

[Steve Pierce]

Digital copies would probably be a huge plus. I store my logs in a gun safe in my hanger office.

[Rick]

The Stories are real. I lost my Lodge in Alaska in 2000 and my Logs went with it along with everything else. Earthquakes and floods really screw things up but fire dose EVERYTHING in. I’ve been digitizing all important paperwork ever sense.

[Steve Pierce]

Hate to hear that Rick. Sounds like I need to scan mine. Found this picture of my safe and the guards guarding it.
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[Clayton Harper]

Hate to hear that Rick. Sounds like I need to scan mine. Found this picture of my safe and the guards guarding it.
IMG_20190621_150628.jpg

Need to get one of your guard cat on the job as well.

[smcnutt]

I scan them as a multi page document. When I add a new page I use a program that will allow me to add that page to my existing file. I store the file in the cloud on my Google drive and my computer.

I find it real useful to have a copy that I can pull up when something pops into my head. A lot easier than pulling the actual logbook out.

[Jim Hann]

Digital copies would probably be a huge plus. I store my logs in a gun safe in my hanger office.

Mine are in a fire safe at home, don’t want to keep them too close to the airplane.


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[andya]

I made an excel sheet that computes all necessary times based on tach time or hobbs that way the other times don't get errors creeping in over time. Below the times for each entry goes the text and then a signature line. The file contains everything since I retired in 2004. I print a paper copy to put in a binder, always carry the most recent annual in the plane. Store the digital file on two separate hard drives and upload to Dropbox. Has worked well so far.

[Rick]

Hay Steve, where did you get that safe? The logo looks exactly like a local safe manufacture here in SoCal that sold them to a company called Pony Express.

[Steve Pierce]

Tractor Supply
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