MmowW's Vice Director Pippo here. Here is a fact that surprises many commercial drone operators: the FAA does not require you to keep flight logs under Part 107. There is no federal mandate. But the absence of a requirement does not mean the absence of a reason. Flight logs protect you during accident investigations, strengthen waiver applications, satisfy insurance carriers, and demonstrate professionalism to clients. Let me explain what to record, how long to keep it, and why it matters.

Quick Takeaways
  • No federal mandate for flight logs under 14 CFR Part 107.
  • Flight logs are strongly recommended for accident investigation, waiver applications, insurance claims, and FAA enforcement inquiries.
  • Recommended entries: date, time, aircraft registration, RPIC name and certificate number, duration, weather, airspace, LAANC authorization, pre-flight checklist, Remote ID status, incidents.
  • Recommended retention: 3+ years (mirrors the FAA enforcement statute of limitations).
  • Digital logs are acceptable — no requirement for paper records.

Table of Contents

  1. The Legal Reality: No Federal Mandate
  2. Six Reasons to Keep Flight Logs Anyway
  3. What to Record in Every Flight Log
  4. Recommended Log Template
  5. How Long to Retain Records
  6. Digital vs. Paper Logs
  7. Frequently Asked Questions
  8. Summary

Search 14 CFR Part 107 from §107.1 to §107.205 and you will not find a flight log requirement. The FAA requires Part 107 operators to:

  • Hold a valid Remote Pilot Certificate (§107.12).
  • Register the aircraft (§107.13).
  • Report qualifying accidents within 10 calendar days (§107.9).
  • Comply with operational rules (visual line of sight, altitude, airspace authorization).

Flight logging is not on that list.

Contrast with manned aviation: Manned aircraft pilots must log flight time under 14 CFR §61.51 for currency and certificate requirements. Part 107 remote pilots have no equivalent provision. Your Remote Pilot Certificate remains valid as long as you pass the recurrent knowledge test every 24 calendar months — regardless of how many or how few flights you log.

This does not mean the FAA discourages record-keeping. FAA advisory materials consistently recommend that Part 107 operators maintain flight logs. The reason is practical, not regulatory.

Six Reasons to Keep Flight Logs Anyway

1. Accident Investigation

If a reportable accident occurs under §107.9, the FAA will investigate. The first thing investigators want to see is a history of the aircraft and the pilot. Flight logs demonstrate:

  • How many hours the aircraft has flown (maintenance intervals).
  • The pilot's recent experience and currency.
  • Whether pre-flight inspections were performed.
  • The conditions of previous flights in the same area.

Without logs, you are asking investigators to take your word for everything.

2. Waiver Applications

BVLOS waivers (§107.200), night operations waivers, and other deviations from standard Part 107 rules require the applicant to demonstrate competence and safety culture. A well-maintained flight log showing hundreds of hours of compliant operations is evidence that the FAA weighs when evaluating applications.

Waiver applications with no documented flight history face an uphill battle. The FAA wants evidence that you can operate safely under standard conditions before granting permission to deviate from them.

3. Insurance Claims

Commercial drone insurance policies typically require documentation of the flight when a claim is filed. Without a contemporaneous flight log, the insurer may dispute coverage. Log entries created at the time of the flight carry far more credibility than records reconstructed after an incident.

4. FAA Enforcement Inquiries

The FAA can investigate alleged Part 107 violations for up to 3 years from the date of the violation (FAA Order 2150.3C). If an enforcement inquiry arises, flight logs from the relevant period demonstrate compliance with altitude restrictions, airspace authorization, visual line of sight, and other operational rules.

5. Client Compliance Requirements

Government contracts, utility company agreements, and insurance inspection jobs frequently require flight log documentation as a deliverable. Clients in regulated industries expect professional record-keeping.

6. Aircraft Maintenance Tracking

Drone manufacturers specify maintenance intervals based on flight hours and cycles. Without logs, you cannot accurately track when batteries need replacement, when motors need inspection, or when airframe components reach their service life.

What to Record in Every Flight Log

There is no FAA-prescribed format. The following entries capture the information most useful for the six purposes listed above:

Entry Why It Matters
Date and time (local, with UTC reference) Establishes when the flight occurred for enforcement and insurance purposes
Aircraft registration number (FA-XXXXXXXX) Ties the log to a specific registered aircraft
RPIC name and certificate number Identifies the responsible pilot
Flight duration (takeoff to landing) Tracks total flight hours for maintenance and experience
Location (GPS coordinates or address) Documents where the operation took place
Weather conditions Wind speed, visibility, cloud cover, temperature
Airspace class G, B, C, D, E — determines authorization requirements
LAANC authorization ID (if applicable) Proof of airspace authorization in controlled airspace
Pre-flight checklist completed (yes/no) Demonstrates safety culture and due diligence
Remote ID confirmed operational (yes/no) Compliance with 14 CFR Part 89
Battery state (start and end voltage/percentage) Maintenance tracking and incident investigation
Purpose of flight Commercial job description, training, maintenance test
Incidents or anomalies Any unusual event during the flight
Post-flight notes Damage found, maintenance needed, follow-up required

Sample Flight Log Entry

Field Value
Date 2026-05-13
Time (local / UTC) 10:30 AM CDT / 15:30 UTC
Aircraft FA-12345678 (DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise)
RPIC Jane Smith, Cert #4567890
Duration 22 minutes
Location 30.2672° N, 97.7431° W (Austin, TX)
Weather Wind 8 mph NW, visibility 10+ mi, scattered clouds 5,000 ft, 78°F
Airspace Class G
LAANC Auth N/A (Class G)
Pre-flight CL Yes — completed
Remote ID Confirmed operational
Battery Start 98% / End 34%
Purpose Commercial — roof inspection for ABC Insurance
Incidents None
Post-flight Minor prop nick on #3, replaced before next flight

How Long to Retain Records

The FAA does not prescribe a retention period for Part 107 flight logs (since the logs themselves are not required). However, practical considerations suggest a minimum:

Recommended Retention: 3+ Years
  • FAA enforcement statute of limitations: The FAA generally has 3 years from the date of a violation to initiate enforcement action (per FAA Order 2150.3C, with exceptions for fraud or intentional misconduct).
  • Insurance claims: Most commercial drone policies have claims periods of 1–3 years.
  • Client contracts: Government and enterprise clients may require records for 3–7 years.
  • Tax documentation: If drone operations are a business, flight logs support expense deductions.

Best practice: Retain all flight logs for at least 3 years. For operators involved in government contracts or regulated industries, 5–7 years provides additional protection.

Digital vs. Paper Logs

The FAA does not require any specific format. Both digital and paper logs are acceptable. Digital logs offer significant advantages:

Feature Paper Logs Digital Logs
Searchability Manual Instant
Backup Physical copies needed Cloud/local backup
Tamper evidence Difficult to prove unaltered Timestamps, edit history
Integration Standalone Syncs with flight planning, weather, airspace
Portability Carry the binder Access from any device
Durability Degrades, can be lost Survives hardware failure (if backed up)

Whatever system you use, make it contemporaneous. A log entry made at the time of the flight is credible evidence. A log entry reconstructed days or weeks later is far less persuasive to investigators, insurers, and clients. Record each flight immediately after landing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the FAA penalize me for not keeping flight logs?

No. There is no regulatory requirement under Part 107 to maintain flight logs, so the absence of logs is not itself a violation. However, the lack of records may make it harder to defend against other alleged violations.

Do I need to log recreational flights?

Recreational flights under the Exception for Limited Recreational Operations (49 USC §44809) have no logging requirement. The same practical benefits apply — logs help with insurance, maintenance tracking, and incident documentation.

My drone records telemetry automatically. Is that sufficient?

Telemetry data (flight path, altitude, speed, battery) is valuable but incomplete. It does not capture weather observations, pre-flight checklist completion, RPIC identity, purpose of flight, or post-flight notes. Use telemetry as a supplement to, not a replacement for, a proper flight log.

Should I log aborted flights?

Yes. An aborted flight due to weather, equipment malfunction, or airspace conflict is important safety data. It demonstrates good decision-making and documents the reason the aircraft was grounded.

How do I log flights for a fleet with multiple pilots?

Maintain logs per aircraft (to track airframe hours) and per pilot (to track individual experience). Cross-reference each entry with both the aircraft registration and the RPIC certificate number.

Summary

Part 107 does not require flight logs, but every serious commercial operator keeps them. Logs protect you during FAA investigations, strengthen waiver applications, satisfy insurance carriers, meet client expectations, and track aircraft maintenance. Record each flight immediately after landing with the essential entries: date, time, aircraft, pilot, duration, location, weather, airspace, and any incidents. Retain records for at least 3 years. Use whatever format works for your operation — digital is faster, more searchable, and easier to back up. The cost of keeping flight logs is minutes per flight. The cost of not having them when you need them can be your certificate, your insurance coverage, or your business.

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This article is provided for informational purposes only by MmowW / Sawai Gyoseishoshi Office. It does not constitute legal advice. Drone regulations change frequently. Always verify current requirements with the FAA directly. MmowW is not a certification body, auditor, or government authority.

References

  1. 14 CFR Part 107 — Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems: ecfr.gov
  2. 14 CFR §107.9 — Accident Reporting: ecfr.gov
  3. 14 CFR §61.51 — Pilot Logbooks (manned aviation comparison): ecfr.gov
  4. FAA Order 2150.3C — FAA Compliance and Enforcement Program: faa.gov
  5. FAA DroneZone: faadronezone-access.faa.gov