I am considering investing in an electronic logbook software. Totaling flight times for 8710s is becoming an annoying and tedious task. I haven’t had any exposure to the current software products available besides sifting through Google so any suggestions are greatly appreciated…
My only requirement is the software be OSX compatible.
-Dan
Any basic spread sheet works best. The columns can be set up to match your paper log book.
+1
Log Ten Pro is a GREAT piece of software. I have used it even since starting my commercial. Preparing for a checkride can be stressful enough and everytime my recommending instructor has asked me if my logbook totals are ready i can without thinking say YES!. On logten pro you can use the 8710 output and it automatically fills in the times needed for the 8710 so you can input those numbers into iacra with confidence. I LOVE IT. Great piece of software. PS i use a mac as well.
-Justin
Like the spreadsheet idea, but I’m not sure how Excel would handle totaling hours by a/c type. The closest function I can fathom is the frequency() function, but that would only count the instances I flew in each type, not the total hours by type. I suppose I could have a column for each a/c type, but that’s a bit too messy for me.
On a complete side note, I flew out of MQB Macomb Municiple today around the time there was a shooting and hostage situation at a local store. Shortly after two state police 182s flew in and circled over the area and opened a TFR. The pilots had airforce style flight suits in addition to the typical police belt with side arm. Kinda cool to see.
Did you not click the link I posted? It does everything you are looking for.
I’d prefer LogTen Pro if I had $99, and I may go that route if I can’t figure out this spreadsheet dilemma
$99 is cheap if you figure you’ll use it forever
Logbook Pro is pretty good, I’ve used it for about 5 years. When you get a bunch of time, you can have them make a hardcover paper logbook out of it.
It is a bit tedious to set up though, but once it is set up, you can just enter the fields you want to, and it tracks currency too.
To the others, I wish I had a Mac!
Sumif is what you need. It will sum items based on a criteria.
If you have Excel 2007 there is a sumifs function which sums items based on multiple criteria.
Send me a private message and I’ll give you my email address where you can send me a sample of your data. I can work something up that might help you.
i have an excel spreadsheet. send me your email and I’ll email you mine
If you have an iPhone and Logbook Pro, there is an APP that allows you to enter your flights in your phone then sync with the computer. It’s worth the $99 
Or you can try walking into a job interview (if you plan on flying for a living) with a crappy excel spreadsheet and try and explain it to someone who will not be impressed.
As someone who has worked with Excel ever since it came out in Windows, I can tell you that it is possible to create an Excel spreadsheet that looks just as good, if not better, as anything created by dedicated logbook software.
If you were doing an interview I don’t think anyone would take an excel or iPhone into the interview. Most people would take the actual logbook
I use both a hard copy logbook and then duplicate the data into the electronic logbook available with my EAA subscription to aeroplanner dot com. Duplication helps me check for errors but it is tedious to enter zeros into all the blank spaces in the e-logbook. The electronic form can also be populated with data from either excel or access.
BTW - Is there a legal requirement for me to have my logbook in the aircraft with me, just as I have to have the registration, A/W cert & pilots licence? If so, does an electronic copy meet the requirements?
Actually I have never shown my logbook in any interview…
Nope.
It’s a spreadsheet. It will do anything you want it to do. I have a separate column for SE-Complex just because the insurance company asks every year.
Just use an spreadsheet. Take a night class on Excel and you’ll be able to make it as pretty as you want.
Colorful frames, color coded currency reminders, auto totaling, custom filters to extract the data exactly as any application asks for it, etc… and you can import from about anything.
Also nice to setup so when you enter a tail number it automatic fills the appropriate column(s) (asel or AMEL etc).
Also Open-office has a free spread sheet that is damn near better than Microsoft’s Excel.
But keep a paper one also if you plan on flying outside of the US most Third world countries aren’t E-literate yet and won’t be for many years if ever.