The “new” Canadian Air Regulations (CARs) are not really new now, having been in force since Oct. 10, 1996. I have noticed that many private pilots are still not aware of the rules that apply to aircraft journey logbooks and pilot logbooks, or are not complying with them.
AIRCRAFT JOURNEY LOGBOOKS - ITEMS TO BE ENTERED
| Item | Time of Entry | Signature |
| Aircraft empty weight and centre of gravity | On commencing a log and when a change occurs, at the latest before the next flight | Aircraft owner or person who made the change |
| Air time of each flight or series of flights | Daily, on completion of each flight or series of flights | The pilot-in-command |
| Total air time since manufacture | As above | As above |
| Particulars of any abnormal occurrence or any defect | At the latest before the next flight | The pilot-in-command or the person who discovered the defect |
| Particulars of any maintenance or maintenance release | As above | The person who performed the work |
If a series of flights are made in one day, a single
entry may be made provided the same pilot-in-command conducted the flights.
The journey log does not need to be carried on board if the pilot does not plan
to land and shut down at any location other than the point of departure.
When a new log is opened, the replaced log must be retained for not less than
three years. (The old rule was two years.)
To review, the following items are not required: point of departure and
destination, times up and down, flight time, number of persons on board and
weight, quantity of fuel, oil, baggage, and total weight at takeoff.
This means only four entries are required instead of 14.
The above applies only to non-commercial flights; however, if you are renting
the aircraft the renter may require you to make all 14 entries. That is their
prerogative.
Pilot logbook - items to be entered
Well, you win some and you lose some. Now, many of the
entries not required in the journey log are required in your personal logbook.
Prior to the promulgation of the CARs, a personal logbook was not required
except to document experience required for a higher licence or rating.
Now every holder of a flight crew permit, licence or rating must maintain a
personal log containing the following information in respect of each flight:
a) the date of the flight
b) the type of aircraft and its registration mark
c) the flight crew position in which the holder acted
d) the flight conditions with respect to day, night, VFR and IFR
e) the place of departure and the place of arrival
f) all intermediate takeoffs and landings
g) the flight time
This information is needed to document recency.
New pilot logbooks available now have columns to record instrument time under
actual IMC conditions, simulated, flight simulator, and number of IFR
approaches.
They also have columns for cross-country by day and night, and number of
takeoffs and landings by day and night.