Why Is a Journey Log Important?
A journey log is primarily used to document information about the flights. In many countries and jurisdictions, it’s required that the aircraft owner maintain this log for at least one year. Some flight logs may include technical information about maintenance and inspections, but almost all will include information about flight dates, crew member names, crew assignments, and other observations about each logged trip.
For an aircraft owner, any documentation on the journey of flight is also critical for a SAFA check. A Safety Check of Foreign Aircraft is analogous to a ramp inspection conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration. In European airports, these checks are required prior to flight. A SAFA inspection often evaluates the following:
- Aircraft exterior and interior
- Required emergency equipment
- Information about the flight crew
- Aircraft documentation
Generally, a SAFA check doesn’t impact an upcoming scheduled flight; however, it may reveal deficiencies or other issues that warrant a flight being delayed. An aircraft flight logbook is part of the aircraft documentation that a SAFA inspector wants to see.