FAA Approved?

The awesome BetterPlane advocate Bob Wieneke contacted the FAA's Aircraft Maintenance Division (AFS-300) and asked the question directly: does keeping digital copies of your logbooks, while storing the paper originals, require formal FAA approval?

The short answer: no. AFS-300 responded in writing on February 27, 2026. Part 91 GA operators don't need formal approval to keep electronic maintenance records. The regulations and advisory circulars already allow it.

What the FAA Said

• 1. The regs don't dictate the medium. 14 CFR parts 43 and 91 set requirements for what goes into maintenance records, not what format they're kept in. Paper, digital, or anything else that meets §43 and §91 Subpart E is acceptable.
• 2. AC 43-9D specifically mentions commercial scanning applications. The FAA's own advisory circular describes operators using commercially available apps to scan records into a digital format (see the quote below).
• 3. No approval, acceptance, or authorization for Part 91. AC 120-78B, paragraph 19.5, says it plainly: Part 91 operators (excluding 91K) don't need one.
• 4. The FAA doesn't evaluate specific products. Their letter addresses the regulations, not any particular app.

"An operator may utilize a commercially available application and service to fully scan records… into a digital format. These digitized records can then be safely uploaded into various applications, making them secure and searchable."

How BetterPlane Follows the Guidelines

We take the guidelines seriously. BetterPlane is built to follow the best practices in AC 120-78B and AC 43-9D:

• Original scanned images are the source of truth and can't be altered
• Records stored on redundant servers across two major cloud providers
• Secure login with role-based sharing (officer, manager, member)
• Searchable digital records powered by AirWrenchAI™
• 17 ready-made alert templates plus custom reminders for annuals, inspections, and more

Our Commitment

Even though Part 91 GA operators aren't required to meet the same standards as commercial carriers, we built BetterPlane as if they were. Every scan produces a certifiable digital copy of your logbooks—one that can stand in if the originals are ever lost or destroyed, helping preserve the value of your aircraft.

At the core of it all: the original image is always the source of truth.

Questions about logbooks and data safety? See the Logbooks, Data, Safety & FAA Guidance FAQ.