Drone Logbook Template for Part 107 and Recreational Pilots

Does the FAA require a drone logbook?

Short answer: no, not as a general rule. Unlike manned aviation, there is no FAA requirement for hobby or Part 107 drone pilots to keep a personal flight logbook. What the rules do require is worth knowing, because a log makes each of these easier.

• Part 107 pilots must have their remote pilot certificate with them when flying and, on request, make it and any other document, record or report required by the rules available to the FAA (14 CFR 107.7).
• Part 107 pilots must report to the FAA within 10 calendar days any operation that causes serious injury, loss of consciousness, or damage to property other than the drone where repair or replacement costs more than $500 (14 CFR 107.9).
• Part 107 pilots must keep their knowledge current with recurrent training every 24 calendar months.
• Recreational flyers under 49 U.S.C. 44809 must pass TRUST and carry proof of it, register drones that weigh more than 250 g (0.55 lb), follow the safety guidelines of a community-based organization, and get authorization before flying in controlled airspace. There is no logbook requirement.
• Registered drones must also meet Remote ID rules.

Why keep a drone flight log anyway

This is a plain-English summary, not legal advice; check faa.gov for current rules, and your own aviation authority if you fly outside the US. Whatever the rules say, pilots who log their flights tend to be glad they did:

• Accident reports: if you ever need to file one, date, location, aircraft, weather and what happened are already written down.
• Maintenance: flight hours per aircraft tell you when to replace props, check motors and inspect arms.
• Battery health: cycle counts and landing voltages show which packs are aging before one fails mid-flight.
• Insurance: a dated record of flights and incidents supports a claim.
• Proof of experience: clients, employers and waiver applications often ask how much you have flown.
• Progress: seeing your hours add up is motivating, and patterns (wind, sites, crashes) jump out.

Drone logbook template: the fields to record

Copy these columns into a notebook or spreadsheet, or use an app that fills most of them for you. The first eight are worth recording on every flight; the rest add value for Part 107 work.

Recreational vs Part 107: what changes in the log

Recreational pilots can keep it simple: date, drone, place, time, batteries, weather and outcome. That covers maintenance, battery care and anything you might need after an incident.

Part 107 pilots benefit from adding the business side: client or job, authorization reference, visual observers, and a note that the preflight assessment was done. None of it is required as a logbook, but it is exactly what a client, insurer or FAA inspector will ask about.

Paper, spreadsheet or app?

Many drones save telemetry in their own companion app, which is handy but usually covers one brand, and rarely your batteries, other aircraft or repairs. A paper log or spreadsheet covers everything but relies on you filling it in at the site, which is where logs usually fall apart.

RC Flight Log was built for that moment: pick the drone, the next charged pack is suggested, tap Good or Crash when you land. The field is picked up from GPS and weather from MET Norway, pack cycles update themselves, and the logbook shows filterable totals. There's no account; your data stays on your iPhone and you can export a backup file any time.