How to convert a handwritten flight logbook to digital
Move paper hours into the electronic logbook you already use. You photograph the pages; we run OCR; you review before export.
What “convert” means here
Converting a handwritten flight logbook to digital is not switching from paper to a new electronic logbook brand. It is capturing each paper page, extracting the flight fields, checking them against the image, and exporting a file your existing app can import. ForeFlight, LogTen Pro, and MyFlightbook stay the system of record. This service fills the gap between a bound book and those apps.
You photograph or scan each two-page spread yourself. We do not mail-in or scan books for you. A phone is enough when the spread is flat, lit evenly, and in focus. Dedicated scan apps can help with skew, but they are optional. Read the logbook photo guide before you process a full book, and use the free trial credits to test your setup on a couple of pages.
Which paper books we can digitize
OCR today is tuned for Jeppesen professional logbooks (the primary pack) and ASA Standard Pilot Log pages. Choose the matching format at upload so the right extraction pack runs. Other paper layouts — custom binders, CASA-style books, mystery scans — are not OCR-tuned yet. Uploading them as Jeppesen or ASA usually wastes a page. See Is my logbook supported? and email support if your publisher is not listed. Do not buy a large credit pack hoping an unsupported book will “just work.”
Step-by-step: paper to CSV
- Create an account. New accounts include 3 free page credits and do not require a card.
- Photograph or scan each open spread in one landscape image. Include both pages, column headers, and the date column.
- Upload, select Jeppesen or ASA, and start processing. Most pages finish in about a minute once a worker picks them up.
- Open Review when status is Completed. Edit any field beside the page image. You are responsible for the hours you keep.
- Export Generic CSV (21 Jeppesen-style columns) and import it using your app’s CSV flow. Follow the export & import guide for ForeFlight, LogTen Pro, and MyFlightbook.
A credit is used only when processing succeeds. Photo-quality failures can be skipped without a charge; retry with a better image instead of the same blurry file.
OCR accuracy vs a transcription service
Automatic OCR is fast. It is not a guarantee that every column is perfect, and it is not a mail-in human transcription desk. Confidence scores highlight uncertain cells. You still review. That is the product: speed on the typing, with a human (you) on the sign-off. If you need an unsupported format, ask support rather than treating this as a generic “any logbook” bureau.
What it costs
After the 3 free credits, pages are pay-as-you-go: $4.00 each for lifetime pages 1–50, $3.75 for 51–100, and $3.50 for 101+. Credits do not expire. There is no subscription. Public rates live on the homepage Pricing section.
Quick answers
- How do I convert a handwritten flight logbook to digital?
- Photograph each two-page spread, upload the images, choose Jeppesen or ASA, review the extracted flights, then download Generic CSV and import it into your electronic logbook. You photograph or scan — we do not mail-in books.
- How do I digitize a paper aviation logbook?
- Use the same photo-in flow. Good images matter more than a dedicated scanner. Follow the logbook photo guide, then process a test page with free credits before you upload an entire book.
- Can OCR convert a pilot logbook automatically?
- OCR extracts fields automatically, but you always review and can edit before export. It is not a hands-off replacement for checking your hours. Credits are used only when processing succeeds.
- Is this a flight logbook transcription service?
- It is a self-serve web app, not a mail-in transcription desk. You capture pages; the service runs OCR and you verify the table. If you need another paper format, email support rather than buying a large credit pack on an unsupported layout.