Looking at method to log flight time, maintenance, etc. It looks like there are both paper and pen options as well as electronic. Downside to electronic seems to be a monthly cost and a bit unclear what happens to your logs if you change providers or even decide paper is better in the future. Having said that, leaning toward some electronic method because a bunch of data can be electronically imported direct from the flight. Examples are AirData and DroneLogbook are a couple I have looked at.
Anyone have experience with these or others or should I just log pilot and aircraft time on paper?
SHG
I've been using iAuditor as both a prestart checklist and as a logbook. The logbook aspect (page 1) records where the flight was, what it was for, what drone was used, maximum altitude set and a few other bits and pieces. The checklist (page 2) includes things like check for flight restrictions, remove gimbal lock, check for wildlife (eagles kill drones), check camera set to shutter priority, etc.
We don't log flight time, but that would be easy to record in iAuditor too.
Sorry to revive an old thread, but just to add my $.02 - I use AirData mainly because it pulls in an extensive amount of flight and equipment telemetry data automatically.?ÿ It knows which drone and battery was flown, and tracks data for each piece of equipment individually.?ÿ You can set your own maintenance schedules and get reminders, and if memory serves it has a lot of sensible defaults for maintenance schedules as well.?ÿ AirData is a huge time saver for me and very much worth the $$.
Just got Airdata a couple weeks ago and I'd agree with Corey. It's likely the cheapest non-paper option available; It works natively with our aircraft to automatically pull all our flight logs in; It has mission planning software, pilot logs and alerts, aircraft/battery maintenance tracking and alerts; It creates customizable reports including COA reporting for the FAA... We have an enterprise license for $20/month/aircraft. It packs a lot of punch for the price.
I ended up using DroneLogBook (DLB), BUT could never get the cloud sync to work, everybody pointing fingers (FYI, that is the reason I am hardcore instrument and data collector from same source). I entered some flights manually, BUT then discovered DLB reads a ton of native log files that are the UAV controller, just have to find and then copy those binary files from controller to PC and import. It works pretty good, tracks batteries, hours, trajectory and so on and even imports the weather for the date.
DLB is a cloud based product and I am using the free version. That limits the reporting, BUT you can create a monthly PDF of total flight hours in the free version.
Once I found that I didn't have to manually enter flight data it works good enough for my needs.
SHG