🇬🇧 Guide

Drone Flight Logs: Why Part 107 Operators Should Keep Them

Quick Takeaways

Table of Contents

1. The Flight Log Question: Required or Not?
2. Why You Should Keep Logs Regardless
3. What to Record in Your Flight Log
4. Retention: How Long to Keep Records
5. Flight Log Formats
6. Logs for Waiver Applications
7. Logs for Insurance Claims
8. Logs for Client Documentation
9. How MmowW Automates Flight Logging
10. FAQ
11. Summary

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The Flight Log Question: Required or Not? {#required-or-not}

Part 107 does not contain an explicit flight log requirement comparable to 14 CFR Part 61's pilot logbook requirements for manned aircraft. There is no FAA regulation that specifies "you must record X, Y, Z in a flight log."

However, Part 107 does require:

• Accident reports (§ 107.9) — which implicitly require records of the accident flight
• Presenting records on request (§ 107.7) — "certificates, authorizations, or papers" including waiver authorization documentation

The practical answer: While not explicitly required, flight logs are:

• Expected by professional clients
• Required for waiver applications (historical operations data)
• Required for insurance claims
• Protective in FAA investigations
• Industry standard for professional operators

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Why You Should Keep Logs Regardless {#why-keep-logs}

1. Accident Reporting Support

When a qualifying accident occurs, your accident report requires:

• Date, time, and location of the flight
• Aircraft details and registration number
• Description of the operation
• Contributing factors

Without a flight log, you're reconstructing this from memory — in what is likely a stressful post-accident situation.

2. FAA Investigation Protection

If the FAA investigates any incident near your operational area, your flight log is your first line of defense:

• Proves where you were flying and when
• Shows your LAANC authorization was obtained
• Demonstrates your pre-flight safety checks were completed

3. Waiver Application Support

Part 107 waiver applications — especially BVLOS — require evidence of your operational history:

• Total flight hours
• Hours in relevant operation types
• Safety record (incidents per flight hour)
• Geographic experience

Without logs, you have no documented evidence.

4. Insurance Claims

Drone insurance claims require:

• Flight details at time of incident
• Pre-flight safety documentation
• Pilot credentials and currency records

Insurance companies may deny claims without supporting flight documentation.

5. Client Professional Credibility

Commercial clients increasingly request flight logs as part of deliverables:

• Date/time of footage capture
• GPS coordinates of operations
• Airspace authorization confirmation
• Pilot credentials

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What to Record in Your Flight Log {#what-to-record}

Minimum Recommended Elements

| Element | Why It Matters |

|---|---|

| Date | Fundamental record — required for accident reports and waiver applications |

| Local time (start and end) | Duration; correlation with weather and airspace data |

| GPS coordinates / location description | Where you flew; airspace class; TFR correlation |

| Aircraft registration number | Links to FAA registration records |

| Remote Pilot Certificate number | Links to pilot currency records |

| Flight duration | Hours accumulation for waiver applications |

| Airspace class | Documentation of authorization requirements |

| LAANC authorization number | If required — proves authorization was obtained |

| Weather conditions | Visibility, wind, temperature |

| Pre-flight inspection result | Aircraft was in safe condition before flight |

| Purpose of flight | Commercial, recreational, inspection, etc. |

| Incidents / anomalies | Near-misses, equipment issues, anything unusual |

Enhanced Elements (Professional Commercial Operations)

• Client name/project reference
• Deliverables produced (footage, images, survey data)
• Crew (additional operators, visual observers)
• Payload (camera, sensor, etc.)
• Battery numbers and charge cycles
• Firmware/software versions
• Specific LAANC authorization grid ceiling

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Retention: How Long to Keep Records {#retention}

| Retention Period | Rationale |

|---|---|

| Minimum: 3 years | Mirrors FAA's enforcement statute of limitations |

| Recommended: 5 years | Matches common civil litigation statutes in most states |

| For waiver renewal: indefinite | Entire operational history may be needed |

| Accident-related logs: permanent | Never destroy records related to any accident or incident |

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Flight Log Formats {#formats}

Option 1: Digital Apps (Recommended)

Apps like MmowW, DroneLogBook, Skyward, or manufacturer apps automatically capture most log elements from the drone's telemetry and GPS.

Advantages: Automatic, accurate GPS data, flight duration, difficulty to alter post-hoc, easily exportable

Recommended for: All commercial operators

Option 2: Spreadsheet/Paper Log

Simple spreadsheets or physical logbooks can satisfy basic needs.

Advantages: Simple, always available, no subscription needed

Disadvantages: Manual entry, error-prone, not geo-tagged, harder to export for analysis

Option 3: Manufacturer Flight Data

Some drones (DJI, Skydio) store internal flight records on SD cards or in cloud accounts.

Caution: Don't rely solely on manufacturer records — they may not be accessible long-term, may not include all needed elements, and proprietary formats can be difficult to export cleanly.

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Logs for Waiver Applications {#waiver-logs}

A well-maintained flight log directly strengthens waiver applications:

| Waiver Type | What Logs Prove |

|---|---|

| § 107.31 BVLOS | Operations experience, safety record, specific environment familiarity |

| Any waiver renewal | Performance under previous waiver, improvement over time |

| Night operations | Night flight hours, safety record at night |

The FAA rewards demonstrated operational history. Operators with hundreds of well-documented flights are more credible waiver applicants than those with no records.

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Logs for Insurance Claims {#insurance-logs}

Commercial drone insurance claims typically require:

• Proof of flight at the time of the claim event
• Aircraft details and registration
• Pilot credentials and currency
• Pre-flight documentation (to show due diligence)
• Weather and conditions data

Insurance adjusters view absent logs skeptically. A complete flight log is your best defense against "we can't verify the flight details" claim denial.

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Logs for Client Documentation {#client-logs}

For commercial clients, flight logs serve as:

• Chain of custody for aerial data (when was it captured, exactly where)
• Compliance verification (LAANC was obtained, airspace was authorized)
• Asset delivery confirmation (flight happened on the agreed date at the agreed location)

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How MmowW Automates Flight Logging {#mmoww-section}

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FAQ {#faq}

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Summary {#summary}

Drone flight logs for Part 107 operators:

• Required? Not explicitly by regulation — but practically essential for professional operations
• When you need them: Accident reports, FAA investigations, waiver applications, insurance claims, client deliverables
• What to record: Date, time, location, aircraft, pilot, airspace, LAANC authorization, conditions, incidents
• How long to keep: Minimum 3 years; accident records permanently
• Best approach: Automated logging via MmowW or dedicated log app — every flight, every time

Related Articles

• Drone Accident Reporting: When and How to File with the FAA
• Part 107 Waivers: Which Rules You Can Waive and How to Apply
• Part 107 Recurrent Training: Your 24-Month Renewal Checklist
• Part 107 Explained: The Complete Guide to Commercial Drone Operations in the US (2026)

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CTA

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Disclaimer

References

• FAA Part 107 (14 CFR Part 107): https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-F/part-107
• FAA DroneZone: https://faadronezone-access.faa.gov/
• FAA UAS Commercial Operators: https://www.faa.gov/uas/commercial_operators/
• FAA UAS Enforcement: https://www.faa.gov/uas/resources/enforcement

• 2026-04-14 — Initial publication