Automated logging of flight hours

Purpose

1.1. Automate the end-to-end process of recording flight hours for pilots, aircraft, and training sessions.
1.2. Eliminate manual paper or spreadsheet logs, ensuring accuracy, regulatory compliance, and real-time access to flight logs.
1.3. Streamline reporting to aviation authorities, simplify maintenance scheduling, and improve pilot proficiency tracking.
1.4. Aggregate data for billing, audit trails, and membership engagement analytics.

Trigger Conditions

2.1. Digital flight plan filed/completed (input from Electronic Flight Bag apps)
2.2. Post-landing declaration via SMS, email, or app-based form
2.3. IoT signal from aircraft avionics (flight switch off/on event)
2.4. Entry in scheduling system marking flight as ‘completed’
2.5. Submission of debrief forms by instructors/pilots
2.6. Digital fuel/maintenance system log-off after flight
2.7. Calendar event marked as ‘done’ in booking platform

Platform Variants

3.1. Twilio SMS
• Feature/Setting: Incoming SMS webhook — receive landing confirmation; configure webhook to parse pilot’s data.
3.2. SendGrid
• Feature/Setting: Inbound Parse Webhook — process emails sent with flight details; automate log creation.
3.3. Google Sheets
• Feature/Setting: Append Row API — log each flight hour entry with metadata; configure worksheet columns for standard data capture.
3.4. Airtable
• Feature/Setting: Automations — record flight event triggers; use ‘Create Record’ action for each log.
3.5. Slack
• Feature/Setting: Incoming Webhook — post completed flight details to #flight-logs channel, trigger next-step automation.
3.6. Microsoft Outlook
• Feature/Setting: Calendar Event Trigger — use Graph API to detect flight events marked completed; auto-create log.
3.7. Zapier
• Feature/Setting: Zaps — connect booking platforms/flight apps to log sheets via ‘New Event’ or ‘New Form Submission’.
3.8. Notion
• Feature/Setting: API ‘Create Page’ — insert new flight log entries structured by template.
3.9. Google Forms
• Feature/Setting: On Submit trigger — auto-create timestamped entry in backend database or sheet.
3.10. Pipedrive
• Feature/Setting: Activities API — log each pilot’s flight hour as a completed activity.
3.11. Salesforce
• Feature/Setting: Custom Object API — configure “Flight Log” object; record via REST API trigger.
3.12. Xero
• Feature/Setting: Invoice API — generate time-linked invoices based on logged flying hours.
3.13. JetBrains Space
• Feature/Setting: Automation Scripts — trigger logging from code merge or manual flight log submission.
3.14. Webflow
• Feature/Setting: Form Submissions — configure webhook to trigger entry into backend.
3.15. DocuSign
• Feature/Setting: Envelope Completed Webhook — record flight log upon digital sign-off completion.
3.16. Monday.com
• Feature/Setting: Automations — “When status changes to done, create item” for new log record.
3.17. QuickBase
• Feature/Setting: Pipeline — collect form submissions, map to structured log entries.
3.18. AWS Lambda
• Feature/Setting: Event-based execution — script to parse incoming data and push to central log database.
3.19. SharePoint
• Feature/Setting: List Automations — auto-update ‘Flight Hours’ list from external triggers.
3.20. Trello
• Feature/Setting: Card Creation Trigger — every completed flight adds card to ‘Flights Completed’ board.
3.21. Dropbox
• Feature/Setting: File Request Completed — trigger log entry when debrief or log file uploaded.

Benefits

4.1. Eliminates manual data entry and reduces errors.
4.2. Provides real-time visibility from any device.
4.3. Ensures compliance with aviation audit standards.
4.4. Enables instant reporting for authorities or insurance.
4.5. Integrates with billing, scheduling, and CRM systems.
4.6. Improves member satisfaction with transparent self-service access.
4.7. Accelerates maintenance and aircraft utilization planning.