Airline Logbook Audit Question

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Pilot-To-Be

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I am now at 1625hrs TT CFI/CFII. I have been right seating in some C525’s and I’ve been documenting it in my logbook. Before anyone jumps to conclusions, I don’t count it toward totals, it’s just there to document the experience. All I put is the Date, Type of Aircraft, and Route. In the remarks I’ll write what it was and how much time was accrued.

I view my logbook as a story book, which is why I add it and possible insurance coverage down the road if I ever get typed.

My question is, do airline recruiters care that these flights are in the logbook at all? I assume they don’t care since it’s not reflect in my totals and such. Thoughts?
 
I can't answer what airline interviewers want or need. But I will say that this is one of the many advantages of an electronic logbook. Don't want something extraneous to show up? Filter it out before you provide it to the interviewer.
 
I don't fly for an airline, so I have not direct experience. But a LOT of people do what you described. If it is an in-person review, if they care they may ask and you clarify. If you send in scans, just add something to the cover letter like "NOTE: There are some non qualifying flights recorded only for historical purposes. Totals are not impacted." Or whatever you want to say. That should also answer any questions.
 
I've logged every documentable six-minutes allowed under 14 CFR 61.51(j), and I've had those numbers questioned at least once. People love to question, and it seems the less they know the more that holds true (in both ways). Were I to be offered any right seat time in an aircraft I did not hold a rating for I'd probably do as you are.
 
I can't imagine it'd be a problem at all. You'll have an opportunity to answer any questions they have. They just want to make sure the times you put on the app are accurate, and perhaps get a sense of your personality based on how organized your logs are.
 
They don't care. They are going to look for what they need to see to check their boxes.
Make sure it is neat, clean, and you can explain what is in it.

We had a 2nd logbook review at indoc which was more detailed than the interview review. There was a bit of the guy going "What is this" and scratching his head when things were confusing to him.
Just make sure the things that count toward your ATP mins are there and be able to explain the fluff in the event that someone asks.

My experience only. Other airlines may be different.
 
Pilot-To-Be said:
Care to share any of the “what is this?” instances?
Click to expand...

A lot of my background before going to the dark side of 121 was corporate and charter, and many airline guys are unfamiliar with some of the types listed. "What's a PAY2? What's a CE-560?" What's nice is those questions can lead to less formal interactions, which helped me to relax for the rest of the interview. "Ah cool - the K-Mart King Air! What was that like to fly?"
 
The goal is to have a professional-looking logbook(s) that gives the reviewer confidence that your time is logged accurately.

You can help this process by have a single sheet explaining anything unusual, such as your non-logable flights, and a list of your FAA and airline checkride dates. Give them the answers to any questions that they may have. Make it easy for them to find the things that they're likely to look for.
 
HR has a firm grip on the hiring. It seems as if pilots are only casually invovled in the hiring process anymore, often via a remote call so there is not really logbook scrubbing. At least where I work, HR doesn't really know what they're looking at in a logbook so I wouldn't expect too many questions. Obviously it will vary drastically from place to place. Back in the day I had to answer as to why it took me 70 hours and a year to finish my PPL (9/11, and freshman year of college), I had to talk about a flight I did from Santiago Chile to Melbourne, Australia and explain the process of transiting the south pac, etc. Also had to hop in a 757 sim and fly it around the patch for a few approaches to 500 ft OVC with no Autopilot/autothrottle/flight direct (oh the humanity). They don't really do that anymore. A shame, because it did weed out some BS'ers, but even then a few still somehow made it through and had to get cut in training.
 
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