Pilot Logbook

Import flights (macOS)

Flights can be easily imported from a CSV file that you have created or downloaded. Alternatively, flights can be added and modified manually.

The CSV file

Your CSV file must contain a number of compulsory columns, and can optionally contain extra columns for Pilot Logbook to interpret. Column titles can be set to any value, but must match the values set in your Import Preferences. Data must be in the formats as specified.

Compulsory columns:

  • Date. Must be in a recognisable date format. A blank or incorrectly formatted cell will result in the row being overlooked.Examples of acceptable date formats:
    DD/MM/YYYY or MM/DD/YYYY depending on your location.
    DD.MM.YYYY or MM.DD.YYYY depending on your location.
    DD/MM/YY or MM/DD/YY depending on your location.
    DD.MM.YY or MM.DD.YY depending on your location.
    DD Month YYYY or Month DD YYYY
    DD Month YY or Month DD YY
  • Departure time. Must be in format hh:mm or hhmm UTC. A blank cell will default to 00:00.
  • Arrival time. Must be in format hh:mm or hhmm UTC. A blank cell will default to Departure time.
  • Departure airport. Should be an ICAO or IATA code. A blank cell will require manual input later.
  • Arrival airport. Should be an ICAO or IATA code. A blank cell will require manual input later.
  • Aircraft registration. Any text. A blank cell will require manual input later.
  • Pilot 1 (in command) Should be either a First and Last name or a Last and First name separated by a space. A blank cell will require manual input later.

Optional columns:

  • Flight number. Any text. A blank cell will be overlooked.
  • Aircraft type. Type code. A blank cell will be overlooked.
  • Pilot 2. Should be either a First and Last name or a Last and First name separated by a space. A blank cell will be overlooked.
  • Pilot flying. Must be true or false. A blank cell will be overlooked. An error will occur if any other value is present.
  • Additional time columns (Total, PIC, PICUS, SIC, Dual, Instructor, Solo, IFR, Night, Instrument, Cross-country, Simulator) Must be hh:mm or hhmm (PIC, SIC, Dual and Simulator also support true/false). A blank cell will be overlooked. An error will occur if any other value is present.
  • Take-off/landing day/night Columns. Any whole number. Any other value will be ignored.

Set import preferences

Before importing flights you must set your import preferences so that Pilot Logbook can read and interpret your CSV file. If import preferences are not set correctly your import will result in an error.

  1. In the Pilot Logbook app choose Pilot Logbook > Settings… Click Import at the top of the window to show the settings.
  2. Click the Data Options button and modify the settings:
    • Airport Format: Select whether airports in your CSV file are listed by ICAO or IATA code.
    • Name Format: Select whether pilot names in your CSV file are listed in order First to Last or Last to First.
    • Night Time: Select whether you want to use Pilot Logbook to automatically calculate night time from the imported flight details. Alternatively you can provide a column for night time in your CSV file, or default night time to zero.
  3. Click the Compulsory Columns button.
    • Write the titles of the compulsory columns exactly as they appear in your CSV file.
  4. Click the Optional Columns button.
    • Select the optional columns that you want Pilot Logbook to include from your CSV file.
      Your CSV file can have extra columns that Pilot Logbook will ignore, you don’t have to choose to include them all here.
    • For the columns you select write the titles exactly as they appear in your CSV file.
    • If you have selected Flight Number you can optionally include a prefix. Whatever text you enter here will be saved in front of every flight number value in your CSV file.
    • Some time columns (PIC, SIC, Dual and Simulator) allow you to specify time or bool. If your data is in time format select Time, if your data is true/false select Bool.

Import the CSV file

Make sure you have read the guidance on the required structure of your CSV file and have set your import preferences before importing.

  1. In the Pilot Logbook app on your Mac do one of the following:
    • With the Flights tab selected in the main sidebar click the Import button  in the toolbar.
      If you can’t see the sidebar: Choose View > Show Sidebar.
    • Choose File > Import Flights from File…
  2. Select your file.
  3. Click Open.
    • A table will load that displays the imported flights. This may take some time if the CSV file has a large amount of data. Only flights that have not been previously added will be imported.
      If an error message is displayed check your import preferences and your CSV file.

Modify and save imported flights

The Import Flights table displays condensed information for each flight that has been imported from the CSV file. You can add missing information and make changes before saving the flights to your logbook. Imported flights that have missing information that is required prior to saving are presented at the top of the table and fields that require input are highlighted blue.

  1. Use the Add checkboxes to select which flights to add to your logbook. The All checkbox at the bottom of the window selects and deselects all flights.
  2. For each flight use the Sim checkbox to indicate whether the entry is a simulator or a flight. If Sim is selected then the airport, PF and Function fields are disabled.
  3. Indicate whether you were pilot flying for the flight using the PF checkbox.
  4. For each flight you can modify the imported aircraft, departure and arrival airports, pilot names, and change the function time in which you operated the flight with the Function dropdown.
    • Click on a field to modify it’s data. Any field that requires data to be added prior to saving is highlighted blue.
    • The Function time is important for correct automatic time calculations.
    • New aircraft, pilots, and airports may be added to the dropdown lists by using the Add dropdown at the bottom of the window.
  5. When you are happy with the import click the Save button. The imported flights will be saved to your logbook as well as any added aircraft, pilots and airports.

See also