Pilot guides to logging, currency and licences, from the rules themselves
Each guide quotes the regulation it explains, lists its sources and gives the date it was checked against them. To move logbooks, see how to export from LogTen Pro or ForeFlight.
FAA rules (16)
- FAA pilot currency: the 14 CFR 61.57 rules in plain wordsThe FAA currency rules for carrying passengers, flying at night and flying IFR under 14 CFR 61.57, plus the 61.56 flight review, quoted from the eCFR with the mistakes pilots most often make.
- When can you log PIC time? FAA 14 CFR 61.51(e) explainedUnder 14 CFR 61.51(e) you log PIC as sole manipulator of an aircraft you are rated for, as sole occupant, or as acting PIC when two pilots are required.
- When can you log SIC time? FAA 14 CFR 61.51(f) and 61.55You log SIC time under 14 CFR 61.51(f) only when a second pilot is required by the type certificate or operating rules. Plus 61.55, safety pilots, Part 121.
- FAA cross-country time: what counts under 14 CFR 61.114 CFR 61.1 has seven cross-country definitions. Private, commercial and instrument need a landing over 50 nm away, rotorcraft 25 nm; the ATP needs no landing.
- Logging instrument time and approaches under FAA rulesLog instrument time only while flying solely by instruments (61.51(g)). An approach counts if flown to MDA or DA/DH on each segment, per FAA InFO 15012.
- What must go in an FAA pilot logbook: 14 CFR 61.5114 CFR 61.51 says what you must log, the entries each flight needs, how instructors sign, who can inspect your logbook, and where electronic logbooks stand.
- FAA flight review (BFR) under 14 CFR 61.56: the full rulesThe FAA flight review under 61.56: 1 hour ground and 1 hour flight every 24 calendar months, who can give it, what replaces it, and the AC 61-65K endorsement.
- FAA instrument proficiency check (IPC): when you need oneWhen the FAA requires an IPC under 61.57(d), the tasks from the Instrument Rating ACS, who can give it, which simulators count, and the AC 61-65K endorsement.
- How long is an FAA medical good for? First, second, third classFAA medical certificate duration under 14 CFR 61.23(d) by class and age, how a first class steps down to commercial and private privileges, and BasicMed limits.
- FAA ATP requirements: the 1,500 hours of 61.159 and the R-ATPThe FAA ATP airplane hours under 61.159: 1,500 total, 500 cross-country, 100 night, 75 instrument, 250 PIC, plus the 61.160 R-ATP, the ATP-CTP and age rules.
- FAA commercial pilot hours: the 250 hours of 14 CFR 61.129The FAA commercial pilot airplane hours under 61.129: the 250 h breakdown, PIC and cross-country time, the 300 nm flight, night rules, multiengine and Part 141.
- FAA instrument rating requirements: the 61.65 hours explainedThe FAA instrument-airplane rating needs 50 h cross-country PIC, 40 h instrument with 15 h from a CFII, a 250 nm IFR cross-country and capped sim time.
- FAA night: logging night time vs night currency vs lightsThe FAA has three nights: log night from the end of civil twilight (1.1), count currency from 1 h after sunset (61.57(b)), and show lights from sunset (91.209).
- FAA Form 8710-1 and IACRA: filling in the Record of Pilot TimeHow to fill in Section III, Record of Pilot Time, on FAA Form 8710-1 (03/26) and in IACRA: each column, where sim time goes, decimals and why forms come back.
- Logging dual and CFI logbook endorsements: 61.51(h) and 61.189What an FAA instructor must write when you log dual (61.51(h)), what 61.189 makes CFIs sign and keep, AC 61-65K endorsement wording and electronic signatures.
- Logging simulator time with the FAA: what FFS, FTD and ATD countFAA simulator time: what FFS, FTD and ATD sessions count toward total time, the instrument rating, commercial and ATP minimums and 61.57 currency.
EASA rules (11)
- EASA recent experience (FCL.060) in plain wordsThe EASA Part-FCL recency rule FCL.060 for carrying passengers and flying at night, quoted from the October 2026 Easy Access Rules, with the 120-day CAT extension and common mistakes.
- EASA pilot logbook requirements: what FCL.050 asks forEASA FCL.050 and AMC1 FCL.050 in plain words: what each logbook entry must show, the 12-column format, electronic logbooks, page totals and how long to keep it.
- How to log PIC, PICUS and SPIC time under EASA rulesEASA rules for logging PIC, PIC under supervision (PICUS) and student PIC (SPIC): FCL.010 definitions, AMC1 FCL.050 countersignatures and the ATPL(A) routes.
- EASA co-pilot and multi-pilot time: how to log itHow to log co-pilot, cruise relief co-pilot and multi-pilot time under EASA AMC1 FCL.050, and what counts toward the ATPL(A) 500 hours of multi-pilot time.
- EASA night definition: civil twilight and logging nightEASA night: end of evening to start of morning civil twilight, sun 6 degrees below the horizon. How to log night time and landings, and the FCL.810 rating.
- EASA cross-country definition and the 300 NM CPL flightEASA cross-country has no minimum distance. The PPL 150 NM and CPL 300 NM (540 km) flights, and the cross-country hours for the IR and ATPL, from Part-FCL.
- EASA ATPL hour requirements: the 1,500 hours in FCL.510.AEASA ATPL(A) needs 1,500 h: 500 multi-pilot, 500 PICUS or 250 PIC, 200 cross-country, 75 instrument and 100 night. FCL.510.A quoted, with sim credit.
- EASA type rating revalidation: LPC, 10 sectors and expiryAn EASA multi-pilot type rating lasts 1 year. Revalidate with a proficiency check in the 3 months before expiry and 10 route sectors (FCL.740, FCL.740.A).
- EASA instrument rating revalidation and renewal (FCL.625)An EASA IR lasts 1 year. Revalidate in the 3 months before expiry, often in your type rating check. Renewal needs an assessment; after 7 years, exams again.
- EASA SEP rating revalidation: 12 hours or a proficiency checkAn EASA SEP or TMG class rating lasts 2 years. Revalidate with 12 h in the 12 months before expiry (6 PIC, 12 landings, 1 h with an FI) or a proficiency check.
- EASA medical validity by age: Class 1, Class 2 and LAPLEASA Class 1 lasts 12 months (6 from age 60, or from 40 in single-pilot passenger CAT). Class 2 runs 60, 24 or 12 months by age. MED.A.045 quoted.
CASA rules (11)
- CASA recency rules: CASR 61.395, 61.870 and the flight reviewsAustralian CASA recent experience rules under CASR Part 61: passenger take-off and landing recency by day and night, IFR approaches, the IPC, night VFR and flight review intervals, quoted from Compilation 103.
- CASA pilot logbook requirements: CASR 61.345 to 61.365What CASR 61.345 makes you record after every flight, the 7-year retention rule in 61.355, and how to produce a paper or app logbook to CASA under 61.365.
- How to log PIC and ICUS (PICUS) time under CASA Part 61When CASR 61.090 and 61.095 let you log PIC or ICUS, how CASA treats flight reviews and safety pilots, and how ICUS counts toward the Australian ATPL.
- Logging co-pilot and cruise relief time under CASA Part 61What CASR 61.085 counts as co-pilot time, how it credits toward the ATPL, the EX32/24 permissible co-pilot exemption, and logging cruise relief under Part 61.
- CASA night VFR rating: night definition, hours and recencyCASA's night definition, logging night time, and the night VFR rating: 10 hours to qualify, 1 night landing in 6 months and a review every 24 months.
- CASA cross-country flight time: definition and licence hoursCASR 61.010 defines cross-country by a pre-planned, navigated route with no minimum distance. The hours you need for the PPL, CPL, instrument rating and ATPL.
- CASA ATPL requirements: 1,500 hours, exams and age (61.705)A CASA ATPL (aeroplane) needs 1,500 hours under CASR 61.705: 1,400 as pilot, 750 in aeroplanes, 500 PICUS or 250 PIC/PICUS, plus 7 exams and age 21.
- CASA CPL hours: 150 integrated vs 200 non-integrated (61.610)A CASA aeroplane CPL needs 150 hours after an integrated course (CASR 61.590) or 200 hours otherwise (61.610), plus PIC, cross-country and instrument time.
- CASA IPC rules: validity, early renewal and who conducts itA CASA IPC is valid to the end of the 12th month after the check (CASR 61.880). Renew in the last 3 months to keep your date. OPCs, 2D/3D and scope.
- CASA Class 1 medical validity: Class 1, Class 2 and Basic Class 2A CASA Class 1 medical lasts up to 1 year; Class 2 lasts 4 years under 40 and 2 years from 40 (CASR 67.205). Renew within 28 days to keep your expiry date.
- Logging simulator time under CASA Part 61: what counts and limitsUnder CASR Part 61, approved FSTD time counts toward licence experience within set limits: 10 hours for a CPL, 100 for an ATPL. How to log sim sessions.
Transport Canada rules (1)
UK CAA rules (1)
Keeping a logbook (10)
- Block time vs flight time vs air time: which one do you log?Log block time. FAA, EASA and CASA all define flight time from first movement to coming to rest. OOOI explained, with what air time and duty limits use.
- Decimal hours to hours and minutes: logbook conversion chartConvert decimal flight hours to hours and minutes and back: 0.1 h is 6 minutes. Tenths chart, rounding rules, and which format FAA, EASA and CASA accept.
- Are electronic pilot logbooks legal? FAA, EASA and CASA rulesYes: the FAA, EASA (AMC1 FCL.050) and CASA (CASR 61.365) all accept electronic logbooks. Signatures, backups and printing a certified copy explained.
- How to audit your pilot logbook before an airline interviewBefore an airline interview, re-add every column, check totals forwarded, signatures and seat time, and test night and instrument time against the rules.
- Logging relief pilot and cruise relief time: FAA, EASA, CASAHow to log relief and cruise relief co-pilot time: FAA 61.51(f) SIC, EASA CRCP under AMC1 FCL.050, and CASA co-pilot time, plus what each credits toward.
- Paper logbook to digital: balance forward or every flight?Moving a paper pilot logbook to an app: balance forward or every flight, what FAA, EASA and CASA say about keeping the paper book, and how to check totals.
- How to export your LogTen Pro logbook and keep your dataExport your LogTen Pro logbook: run Export Flights (Tab), save PDF logbook reports, see what the file leaves out, and what you keep if your subscription lapses.
- How to export your ForeFlight logbook to CSV and use itExport your ForeFlight logbook as a CSV from ForeFlight on the Web, set up the 30-day email export, see what the file holds and leaves out, and reuse it.
- When does night start for logging? Civil twilight explainedLogged night runs from the end of evening civil twilight (sun 6 degrees below the horizon) to morning twilight. Why it varies by latitude, with worked examples.
- How long must pilots keep logbooks? Retention and backupsHow long to keep pilot logbook records under FAA, EASA and CASA rules, how to back up a digital logbook, and which export formats outlast the app you use.
Pilot health (6)
- How much cosmic radiation do pilots get a year?Aircrew cosmic radiation in numbers: the UNSCEAR average of 2.7 mSv a year, per-flight doses from ARPANSA and the FAA, and what the 1, 6 and 20 mSv reference points mean.
- Cockpit noise and pilot hearing loss: levels, limits and headsetsCockpit noise in dB(A) from published studies, the NIOSH, OSHA, EU and Australian limits, what passive and ANR headsets do, and what pilot hearing studies show.
- UV in the cockpit: what windscreens block and pilot melanoma riskCockpit windscreens block UV-B but some pass UV-A, mostly through side windows. The 2015 tanning-bed study, later airliner measurements and pilot melanoma data.
- Window of circadian low (WOCL) 0200 to 0559 and pilot fatigueThe window of circadian low is 0200 to 0559 under Part 117, EASA ORO.FTL and CASA CAO 48.1: how it limits duty and what research shows on earlies and nights.
- Solar flare radiation on polar flights: aircrew dose and alertsHow much dose solar particle events and GLEs add on polar routes, how NOAA's S-scale and ICAO RADIATION advisories work, and why low latitudes see little.
- Pregnant pilots and cosmic radiation: dose limits and who to askRadiation figures for pregnant aircrew: the EU 1 mSv to the unborn child, the FAA 0.5 mSv a month, ICRP and ARPANSA guidance, route doses and medical rules.