The technical log is the aircraft's legal operational record: flight times, defects, deferred items, fuel/oil uplift and the current maintenance status. Under EASA rules an aircraft may not be operated without a valid tech log entry showing it is released and airworthy.
The technical log (tech log) is the aircraft's legal operational record, carried with or accessible for the aircraft, containing the data needed to establish that it may fly: the current maintenance statement (next due check), open and deferred defects, the certificate of release to service after maintenance, and per-flight records of times, cycles and fuel/oil uplift. Under EASA rules, operating an aircraft in commercial training without a properly maintained tech log is a compliance breach in itself.
Traditionally a paper booklet in the aircraft, the tech log is increasingly electronic — which changes its character from passive record to active system: flight times flow automatically into maintenance tracking, defect entries alert engineers immediately, and the airworthiness statement updates in real time rather than at the next page turn.
Why it matters for flight schools
The tech log is where operations and maintenance meet, and where auditors look first. Classic findings include flights recorded after the maintenance due time, defects rectified without corresponding entries, and arithmetic errors in carried-forward hours that propagate for months. For multi-base schools, paper tech logs create a deeper problem: the office never knows the fleet's true current status, because the source of truth is sitting in an aircraft somewhere.
How FlightLogger handles it
FlightLogger's digital tech log captures flight times and defects at source and feeds maintenance tracking automatically — giving the school a live airworthiness picture of the whole fleet instead of a booklet in each cockpit.
Frequently asked questions
Is an electronic tech log legal?
Yes — EASA and most authorities accept electronic technical logs, subject to requirements on data integrity, availability and approval within the operator's or CAMO's procedures. Many authorities actively encourage the transition.
What must be in the tech log before flight?
A valid maintenance statement showing the next due maintenance is not exceeded, the current CRS after the last maintenance, and visibility of any deferred defects — plus the operator-required per-flight data fields.