Getting Started

Chapter 2: Getting Started

Creating Your Account

Step 1: Register

  1. Navigate to app.aircraft-logs.com
  2. Click Sign Up
  3. Enter your information:
    • Search for aircraft(s): Enter the N-number (without the "N" prefix) to quickly add your aircraft
    • Email Address: Your login email (also used for notifications)
    • First Name: Your first name
    • Last Name: Your last name
    • Password: At least 6 characters (use a strong password)
    • Password Confirmation: Re-enter your password
  4. Read and accept the Terms of Service
  5. Click Sign Up

Step 2: Verify Your Email

After registering, you'll receive a confirmation email:

  1. Check your inbox for an email from Aircraft-logs.com
  2. Click the confirmation link in the email
  3. Your account is now verified and ready to use

Tip: If you don't see the email, check your spam folder. Add no-reply@aircraft-logs.com to your contacts.

Step 3: First Login

  1. Go to app.aircraft-logs.com/login
  2. Enter your email and password
  3. Click Log In
  4. You'll be taken to your dashboard

Adding Your First Aircraft if Needed

The fastest way to get started is to add your aircraft by N-number. Our system will automatically pull information from the FAA database.

  1. From the dashboard, click Add Aircraft or navigate to Fleet > Add Aircraft
  2. Enter your N-number (without the "N" prefix)
    • As you type, the system searches the FAA database
    • Your aircraft details will auto-populate if found
  3. Verify the information:
    • Make: Manufacturer (e.g., Cessna, Piper)
    • Model: Aircraft model (e.g., 172S, PA-28-181)
    • Serial Number: Manufacturer's serial number
    • Year: Year of manufacture
  4. Configure hour tracking:
    • Hour Tracking Type: Choose Tach or Hobbs for primary tracking
    • Hour Display: Choose which hour fields to show on forms
  5. Select Inspection Type: Yearly (Annual) or 100 Hour
  6. Click Save Aircraft

Method 2: Manual Entry

If your aircraft isn't found in the FAA database:

  1. Click Add Aircraft
  2. Enter all fields manually
  3. Click Save Aircraft

The Setup Wizard

After adding an aircraft, this will help you configure everything:

Step 1: Review Aircraft Details

Confirm or edit:
- Make, model, serial number
- Year of manufacture
- Inspection type

Step 2: Configure Logbook Types

Default logbook types are created automatically:
- Airframe
- Engine (one per engine)
- Propeller

You can:
- Add additional book types
- Set starting hours for each book type
- Add service dates

Step 3: Add Components

The wizard can automatically create components based on your aircraft type:
- Engines (with TBO if known)
- Propellers
- Major avionics

You can add more components later.

Step 4: Discover Airworthiness Directives

The system searches the FAA AD database for:
- ADs applicable to your airframe
- ADs applicable to your engine(s)
- ADs applicable to your propeller(s)

Review the discovered ADs:
- Mark as Applicable or Not Applicable
- Enter compliance dates for already-complied ADs
- Add any ADs the system missed

Your First Logbook Entry

Let's create your first maintenance entry:

  1. From your aircraft page, click Logbooks

  2. Basic Information:

    • Logbook Types: Select which book(s) this applies to
    • Components: Optionally link to specific components
    • Entry Date: Date of the maintenance/event

  3. Time Tracking:

    • Hobbs Time: Current Hobbs reading (if applicable)
    • Tach Time: Current Tach reading (if applicable)
    • Total Time: Total airframe time

  4. Description:

    • Click Generate to auto-create a description from work items, date and hours
    • Use the rich text editor to describe the work performed
    • Be specific: include part numbers, findings, measurements

  5. Maintenance Details:

    • Oil Change: Check if this was an oil change
    • FAA Inspection: Check if this was an annual/100-hour inspection
    • Shop: Name of the maintenance facility
    • Mechanic: Name of the mechanic
    • Cost: Total cost of the work

  6. Work Items (optional but recommended):

    • Click Add Work Item for each task performed
    • Enter a name and description
    • Link to an AD if this work satisfies an AD requirement

  7. Attachments:

    • Upload photos, PDFs, or other documents
    • OCR will automatically extract text from images

  8. Signature:

    • Click Add Signature to capture a digital signature
    • Draw the signature on the canvas
    • Click Save to attach it to the entry

  9. Click Save Entry to create the logbook entry

Understanding the Dashboard

After setup, your dashboard shows key information at a glance:

Fleet Overview

  • Total aircraft in your account
  • Quick access to each aircraft

Maintenance Due

  • Any upcoming maintenance due today or earlier

AD Compliance

  • Summary of your Airworthiness Directives compliance

The top navigation bar provides access to:

  • Dashboard: Your home page
  • Fleet: View and manage all aircraft
  • Search ADs: Search the FAA AD database
  • Admin (if applicable): Administrative functions

Aircraft Navigation

Within an aircraft, you can access:

  • Overview: Aircraft details and summary
  • Logbooks: All logbook entries
  • Components: Parts and equipment
  • ADs: Airworthiness Directives
  • Hours: Hour tracking history

Quick Actions

  • Purple (?) Button: Opens contextual help for the current form
  • Chat Bubble: Opens the AI assistant
  • Search Bar: Global search across all records

Setting Your Preferences

Customize your experience in your user profile:

  1. Click your name/avatar in the top-right corner
  2. Select User Profile
  3. Configure:
    • Time Zone: Your local time zone
    • Date Format: American (MM/DD/YYYY), ISO, or European
    • Email Frequency: How often to receive notifications

Next Steps

Now that you're set up, explore these features:

← Previous: Introduction | Next: Dashboard →

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