# BetterPlane — Comprehensive Product Reference

> BetterPlane is a general aviation aircraft management platform that helps GA owners digitize paper logbooks, track maintenance, and protect aircraft records. Available on iOS and Android.

Last updated: 2026-09-12

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## Product Overview

BetterPlane turns fragile, unsearchable paper logbooks into a secure, searchable digital archive — without replacing the originals. The app is built by a pilot and aircraft owner for the GA community.

**Core value propositions:**

1. **Logbook digitization with AirWrenchAI™** — Snap photos of handwritten logbook pages. AirWrenchAI extracts readable, searchable text from handwriting, shorthand, and decades-old faded ink. The original page image is always preserved as the authoritative record.
2. **Instant search** — Find ADs, part numbers, dates, and keywords across all logbooks in seconds. No more flipping through binders.
3. **Maintenance tracking & smart alerts** — Track annuals, 100-hour inspections, airworthiness dates, oil changes, and recurring work. Receive alerts by email, SMS (text), and push notifications before items come due.
4. **Multi-engine aircraft support** — Track twins and other multi-engine aircraft with each engine as its own component, separate tach/Hobbs sources, per-engine oil usage, and engine-specific hour alerts.
5. **Secure cloud backup** — Every page image and document is stored redundantly across two major cloud providers. The database is backed up nightly. A lost phone or flooded hangar won't erase your records.
6. **Collaboration** — Invite your A&P, co-owners, club members, or buyers with role-based access (Officer, Manager, Read-only). Priced per hangar, not per seat.
7. **Easy onboarding** — Enter a tail number once and BetterPlane auto-fills make, model, engine, and key airworthiness dates.

**Trusted with 13,000+ logbook pages digitized.**

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## How Logbook Digitization Works

1. **Snap photos** of your logbook pages using your phone's camera.
2. **Upload them** into your BetterPlane hangar.
3. **AirWrenchAI™ extracts text** so you can search decades of records in seconds.
4. **Invite your mechanic or co-owners** for shared access when you need it.

BetterPlane never alters the stored photo of your log page. AirWrenchAI creates a searchable text layer on top. When you edit that text to correct mistakes, each save creates a new version while the underlying image stays unchanged.

**Editing guideline:** Focus on correcting AI reading errors (e.g., "trimmed" should be "timed"). Avoid rewriting history. Image is truth — the photo is the source of record, and the text makes it searchable.

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## All Features

### Logbook Digitization
- Scan handwritten pages with phone camera
- Import existing PDF scans of logbooks (same AirWrenchAI extraction as camera scans)
- AirWrenchAI™ extracts readable text from handwriting and shorthand
- Searchable, organized digital archive
- Page images stored with version-controlled extracted text
- Multi-page document scanning (images to PDF)
- Logbook page management (move, revise entries)
- Export any logbook as a PDF for printing, archiving, or pre-buy packets

### Maintenance Tracking
- Annual inspection tracking
- Airworthiness date tracking
- AD (Airworthiness Directive) reference lookup: tap AD numbers in logbook entries to view the full FAA directive record and its version history
- 100-hour inspection tracking
- Oil change reminders
- Recurring work intervals
- Flight logging with tach and Hobbs readings, fuel, oil, destination, and notes; log past flights, edit records (every change is recorded)
- Fuel burn and oil consumption trend charts, with CSV export of flight, oil, and compression logs
- Fuel logging per flight; oil and compression-check logging per engine
- Priority-based sorting
- Alert delivery: email, SMS, and push notifications
- Multi-engine component tracking with separate engines, tachs, Hobbs, per-engine oil usage, and engine-specific hour alerts

### Data & Security
- Redundant cloud backup across two major providers
- Nightly database backups
- Aircraft document storage (registration, airworthiness certificate, insurance, W&B, 337s, STCs) with expiration-date alerts
- Role-based access control (Officer, Manager, Read-only)
- No data resale to third parties
- Privacy-first approach

### Collaboration & Sharing
- Multi-user hangars (co-owners, A&Ps, club members)
- No per-seat fees
- Invite-based access management via email or phone
- Multi-device sync
- Logbook PDF export for buyers or pre-buy inspections

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## Pricing

Every plan includes logbook extraction with AirWrenchAI™, maintenance alerts, shared access, and document storage. No add-on fees or feature gates.

### T-Hangar (1 aircraft)

For single-aircraft owners who want their paper logbooks safe, searchable, and backed up.

| Billing period | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly | $11.99/month | Pay as you go |
| Annual | $119/year (~$9.92/month) | Save ~17% vs. monthly. 30-day money-back guarantee. |
| Lifetime | $399 one-time | No renewals ever. 30-day money-back guarantee. |

**Free trial:** 1-month free trial on annual T-Hangar plans, then $119/year. Cancel anytime.

**What's included:**
- Logbooks digitized, safe & searchable with AirWrenchAI™
- Maintenance alerts by text, email, and push
- Aircraft docs and key paperwork always accessible
- Easily add your A&P, co-owners, or club members
- Secure cloud backup
- Easy onboarding: enter a tail number once, BetterPlane auto-fills make, model, engine, and key dates

### Box-Hangar (2–3 aircraft)

For partnerships, small collections, flying clubs, or shared hangars.

| Billing period | Base price | Extra tail price |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly | $11.99/month | +$8.00/month per extra tail |
| Annual | $119/year | +$80/year per extra tail |

**What's included:**
- Everything in T-Hangar, built for 2–3 aircraft
- One subscription covers every tail — no per-seat fees
- Officer, manager, and read-only roles for your whole crew
- Shared view of logbooks, documents, and alerts in one place

### Subscription details
- Subscriptions stay with the hangar, not the aircraft. You can swap the aircraft you're tracking at any time.
- A lifetime T-Hangar means you own that digital hangar for the life of BetterPlane.
- Cancelling stops future billing. You keep access long enough to download anything you need, and digitized records are retained per the data-retention policy.
- For hangars with more than 3 aircraft, contact the BetterPlane team.

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## Frequently Asked Questions

### Getting Started

**Q: Is BetterPlane right for a single-aircraft owner like me?**
A: T-Hangar plans are built exactly for that case: one owner, one airframe. You can scan as you go, keep airworthiness dates current, and invite trusted helpers; no need to run a fleet to benefit.

**Q: How long does it take to digitize decades of logbooks?**
A: Less time than most owners expect: typically between half an hour and an hour of scanning, depending on how many years of books you have. One owner put it best: “I was able to upload 60+ years of logs in about an hour.” You can also spread it out; scan one book now and the rest whenever you have a free evening.

**Q: I already scanned my logbooks to PDF. Can I import them?**
A: Yes. Import your existing PDF scans and BetterPlane runs the same AirWrenchAI extraction on them as it does on fresh camera scans, so earlier scanning effort is never wasted. You can mix and match too: import the PDFs you have, then camera-scan the books you never got to.

**Q: Can I search my logbooks once they’re scanned in?**
A: That’s the whole point. Every extracted entry is indexed, so you can search decades of records by keyword: an AD number, a part, a mechanic’s name, “muffler”, anything. Average searches come back in under a second. Finding the last annual or every cylinder swap stops being an afternoon with a binder and becomes a few keystrokes. Step by step: Searching Logbooks (https://betterplane.com/help/logbooks/searching) in the Help Guide.

**Q: Can it really read decades of handwritten entries?**
A: That’s exactly what AirWrenchAI was built for; sloppy shorthand, faded ink, and cramped margins included. Two habits keep extraction accurate: follow the scanning tips the app shows when you start a scan (lighting and flat pages make a real difference), and use the review step to check any page side by side against the original. The photo of the page is always the source of record; the extracted text is there to make it searchable. Step by step: Scanning Logbooks (https://betterplane.com/help/logbooks/scanning) in the Help Guide.

**Q: Does BetterPlane work for twins and other multi-engine aircraft?**
A: Yes. You can track each engine as its own component with its own total time and time since overhaul, alongside props, airframe items, and anything else you maintain. Components can be tied to their own recording instruments, so multiple tachs and/or Hobbs readings stay matched to the right engine. You can also log fuel per flight and oil added per engine, watch usage trends over time, and attach hours-based alerts (like a 50-hour oil change) to the specific engine they belong to. Setup details: Fuel & Oil (https://betterplane.com/help/aircraft/fuel-and-oil) in the Help Guide.

**Q: Does BetterPlane work for experimental and homebuilt aircraft?**
A: Yes. Experimentals keep logbooks and maintenance records like any other aircraft, and BetterPlane digitizes them the same way. The ready-made alert templates include condition inspection tracking, and custom reminders cover anything else your operating limitations call for.

**Q: Can BetterPlane track fuel, oil, and compressions?**
A: Yes to all three. You can log fuel per flight and oil added per engine, and watch usage trends over time, and record the compression readings from each inspection so the history is right there when you or your mechanic want to compare against last year. It all stays with the aircraft in BetterPlane, one record instead of scattered notes. Step by step: Fuel & Oil (https://betterplane.com/help/aircraft/fuel-and-oil) and Compression Checks (https://betterplane.com/help/aircraft/compression-checks) in the Help Guide.

**Q: Can BetterPlane log flights and track my aircraft’s hours?**
A: Yes. Log each flight with its tach and Hobbs readings, fuel used, oil added, destination, and notes. Each meter is its own time source, and every component tied to it (engine, prop, airframe) advances together when you log. That works with one meter or several: a tach and a Hobbs on a single, or separate tachs on a twin. The Flight Data view turns those entries into fuel burn and oil consumption trends, and you can log a past flight you forgot, edit any record (every change is recorded), and export your flight, oil, and compression logs to CSV. Step by step: Tracking Hours (https://betterplane.com/help/aircraft/tracking-hours) in the Help Guide.

**Q: Can I store and back up my aircraft’s documents too?**
A: Yes. Registration, airworthiness certificate, insurance, weight and balance, 337s, STCs; anything paper that belongs with the aircraft can live alongside its logbooks. Documents get the same protection as your log pages: replicated across two major cloud providers and backed up nightly. You can also set expiration dates on documents like insurance or registration so renewals never sneak up on you.

**Q: Will this replace my paper logbooks?**
A: FAA AC 120-78B promotes electronic records so long as they preserve the same integrity, accuracy, and access as paper. BetterPlane treats the scanned page as the authoritative record and keeps it protected, searchable, and shareable. Most owners still store the physical books for redundancy or buyer preference, but the digital copy is what you’ll reference day to day.

**Q: Can I start with just one aircraft and add more later?**
A: Absolutely. You can begin with a single T-Hangar and upgrade to the Box-Hangar plan if you acquire more aircraft. All of your digitized history carries over.

**Q: I’m not in the United States. Can I still use BetterPlane?**
A: BetterPlane is built around US general aviation today; the registry auto-fill, FAA guidance alignment, and inspection templates are all FAA-flavored. The core workflow of digitizing, searching, and backing up logbooks isn’t US-specific, though. If you fly under another authority, contact us (https://betterplane.com/contact); we’re gauging international interest and would love to hear what you need.

### Pricing & Billing

**Q: How do the T-Hangar and Box-Hangar plans work?**
A: T-Hangar covers one aircraft per subscription. Box-Hangar includes all the same features but is tuned for two or three aircraft sharing a space, with pricing that scales by tail instead of by seat. Flying more than three aircraft? Contact us (https://betterplane.com/contact) and we’ll put together a plan that fits your fleet.

**Q: Is there a free trial or money-back guarantee?**
A: Yes! New annual T-Hangar subscriptions include a free 1-month trial so you can try everything before you pay. Additionally, all annual and lifetime purchases include a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you are not happy before that window closes, reach out to support and we will make it right.

**Q: What happens if I cancel my subscription?**
A: Cancelling stops future billing. You keep access long enough to download anything you need, and your digitized records are retained according to our data-retention policy (https://betterplane.com/legal/privacy-policy.html) so you can reactivate without losing history.

**Q: Why does BetterPlane use subscriptions instead of a one-time fee?**
A: Great software is more like an aircraft than a handbook; it needs constant care. BetterPlane is bootstrapped and takes no venture capital, so subscriptions are what fund the work: security patches, steady improvements to AirWrenchAI’s accuracy, secure cloud storage, and new features without surprise upgrade fees. It also means we answer to the owners who pay for the product, not to investors. If you prefer to pay once, the lifetime T-Hangar option gives you a permanent digital hangar while still funding the ongoing work needed to keep it running.

**Q: Can multiple co-owners or club members share one subscription?**
A: Yes. Both T-Hangar and Box-Hangar plans are priced by hangar, not by person. You can invite co-owners, your A&P, club members, or even friends into the hangar without paying per seat.

**Q: Does my subscription stay with the aircraft or the hangar?**
A: Subscriptions stay with the hangar. A lifetime T-Hangar means you own that digital hangar for the life of BetterPlane. You can swap the aircraft you’re tracking at any time. When you sell an airplane, you can transfer your BetterPlane aircraft records to the new owner while keeping the hangar (and lifetime plan) for your next project.

### Logbooks, Data, Safety & FAA Guidance

**Q: Are my logbooks safe if something happens to my phone or the paper originals?**
A: Yes. The original image is always the source of truth; it can’t be altered once uploaded. Every page image and document is stored redundantly across two major cloud providers, and the underlying database is backed up nightly, so a lost phone or a flooded hangar doesn’t erase your records. You can sign in from a new device and pick up where you left off.

**Q: Where are my photos and extracted logbook data stored?**
A: All of the day-to-day data (your hangar details, extracted entry text, alerts, and settings) lives in a professionally managed cloud database that’s backed up every night. The actual logbook images and supporting documents are replicated across two major cloud providers for durability, so even if we lose our primary storage we still have a redundant backup.

**Q: Can I print a copy of my logbooks?**
A: Yes. You can export a logbook as a PDF straight from the app, then print or archive it however you like; handy for pre-buy packets, insurance reviews, and hard copy backups. Exports are included with every plan. Your records are yours: export everything, anytime. Step by step: Exporting Logbooks (https://betterplane.com/help/logbooks/exporting) in the Help Guide.

**Q: Who can see my aircraft records?**
A: Authenticated users you invite, plus BetterPlane itself. Hangar officers can add or remove mechanics, partners, or club members at any time. Like any cloud service, our team can access stored records when operating and supporting the platform (for example, troubleshooting a failed upload you report); that access is limited to running the service. No public browsing, no data resale. Roles and inviting: Members & Invites (https://betterplane.com/help/hangar/members) in the Help Guide.

**Q: Do you sell my data to third parties?**
A: No. Many “free” apps stay free by selling user data to marketers. BetterPlane takes a privacy-first approach; because of that, we don’t offer free accounts. We do not sell or provide your data to third parties for marketing. We may send limited data to trusted third-party services that help us run the platform (for example: error tracking and understanding overall app usage), but those tools are used only to operate and improve BetterPlane, not to market to you or anyone else.

**Q: Does BetterPlane change my logbook entries or edit what my mechanic wrote?**
A: BetterPlane never alters the stored photo of your log page; that image stays exactly as it was uploaded. AirWrenchAI™ creates a searchable text version on top, and when you edit that text to correct mistakes or clarify wording, each save becomes a new version of the entry while the underlying image remains unchanged.

**Q: How much should I edit or correct an extracted entry?**
A: During review (every page can be reviewed against the original), you should focus on correcting mistakes the AI made while reading the handwriting. For example, it might turn a sloppy “timed” into “trimmed”; you’d correct that back to “timed” so the text matches the work actually done. Beyond fixing those kinds of errors and making small changes needed for understanding, avoid re-writing history. Our rule of thumb is simple: image is truth: the photo of the original log page is the source of record, and the text is there to make it fast to search and understand what’s already on the page.

**Q: How does BetterPlane follow the FAA’s AC 120-78B guidance?**
A: AC 120-78B emphasizes data integrity, access control, and reliable backups for electronic records. BetterPlane is built to align with that advice: logbook images and documents are stored redundantly with two cloud providers, the core database is backed up nightly, every user must authenticate, and hangar officers control who is authorized to view or update each aircraft. Paper logbooks remain your primary legal record, and BetterPlane provides the trustworthy digital companion the advisory envisions. For more detail, see what the FAA said about digital logbook records (https://betterplane.com/faa-approval).

### Working with Your A&P / IA

**Q: How does my A&P or shop use BetterPlane?**
A: Invite them from the app and they’ll get read or write access based on the role you assign. They can review upcoming items, read logbook pages, and add notes without flipping through binders in your hangar. How to invite them: Members & Invites (https://betterplane.com/help/hangar/members) in the Help Guide.

**Q: Will my mechanic accept digital copies from BetterPlane?**
A: Most GA mechanics are happy to work from a digital twin of your logbooks when it saves them time; searching for ADs, part numbers, or past work in seconds is a big help. BetterPlane doesn’t replace signatures; it backs them up with clear photos of the signed pages stored safely in the cloud so you can quickly pull up and share the exact entries your mechanic wants to see without risking the originals.

**Q: Can I share logbook records with a potential buyer or pre-buy inspection shop?**
A: Yes. You can add them to your Hangar as a Member (read-only) account or export the specific entries they need. Because everything is digitized, you can show proof of compliance without shipping your irreplaceable books across the country.

### App, Devices & Account

**Q: Which devices does BetterPlane support today?**
A: Both the iOS and Android apps are live, and updates land in the App Store and Google Play as soon as they clear review. A web experience is also available to members on request; reach out via the support page (https://betterplane.com/support) and we’ll set you up.

**Q: Why real mobile apps instead of just a website?**
A: Trust, mostly. Apps distributed through the App Store and Google Play are signed, sandboxed, and reviewed before every release; Apple's review includes human reviewers. A website can change under you at any moment, but a store release is a versioned, reviewed artifact. In the apps, billing runs through Apple or Google as well: you never hand your card details to a small software vendor, and cancelling is always available from your phone's subscription settings. And the public star rating keeps us accountable for every release we ship. A web-only tool offers none of that third-party review; our own web experience is a companion to the apps, not a substitute for them.

**Q: Can I use BetterPlane on more than one device?**
A: Yes. You can be signed in to the same BetterPlane account on multiple devices at once, and everything stays in sync through the cloud. Many owners like to snap photos and check alerts on their phone, then later review entries more comfortably on a tablet. If you ever replace a device, just sign in on the new one and your hangars, logbook images, and alerts will still be there.

**Q: Will this work on my phone or tablet?**
A: Yes. BetterPlane is built to adapt to your screen size, so it works well on iPhones, Android phones, and larger tablets. On a small screen you’ll see a clean, simplified layout; on a tablet you get more information side by side so it’s easy to review entries, alerts, and documents without needing a desktop.

**Q: Can I add co-owners, club members, or my mechanic to my hangar?**
A: Yes. Hangar officers can invite co-owners, club members, or your A&P into a hangar so everyone sees the same logbook images, alerts, and documents. Each person signs in with their own account, and officers can adjust or revoke their access to the hangar at any time without affecting your subscription.

**Q: How will BetterPlane send me alerts and reminders?**
A: BetterPlane ships with 17 ready-made templates for annuals, inspections, and common maintenance items; you can also create your own custom reminders. Alerts go to the email address or phone number you signed up with. You can add the alternate contact method later, and you’ll also receive push notifications on your devices so you don’t miss upcoming maintenance or deadlines. Setup details: Alerts (https://betterplane.com/help/alerts) in the Help Guide.

**Q: Do I need an internet connection in the hangar?**
A: Today, yes; you’ll need an active connection to upload scans and sync alerts. Offline capture is on the roadmap for 2026 so you can work from hangars with limited coverage and sync later.

**Q: Can I use BetterPlane for more than one tail number under the same login?**
A: Yes. Your account can own or access multiple aircraft. Just add the tail number and choose the plan that fits (T-Hangar for single aircraft, Box-Hangar for two or three).

**Q: How do I get help if I’m stuck?**
A: Visit the support page (https://betterplane.com/support) to get live help or reach the team directly; chat, email, and phone options are all listed there. For step-by-step instructions, browse the Help Guide (https://betterplane.com/help).

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## FAA Guidance on Electronic Logbook Records

In February 2026, the FAA's Aircraft Maintenance Division (AFS-300) responded in writing to a BetterPlane aircraft owner's inquiry about keeping digital copies of logbooks alongside the paper originals. Key takeaways:

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 advisory circular states: "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."
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.

The full FAA letter is available at: https://betterplane.com/legal/faa-review-betterplane.pdf

BetterPlane follows best practices from AC 120-78B and AC 43-9D: original scanned images are the source of truth and can't be altered, records are stored redundantly across two cloud providers, access is password-protected with role-based sharing, and records are searchable with AirWrenchAI.

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## About BetterPlane

BetterPlane was founded by **Jason Gould**, a private pilot, software engineer, and EAA lifetime member. Jason owns a 1955 Piper Tri-Pacer (partial restoration). His father was killed in a helicopter crash caused by a missed maintenance item — an experience that drives BetterPlane's mission to prevent missed maintenance through better record-keeping and proactive alerts.

Jason holds an ML patent and has published entomological research. He switched careers from bolts to bytes, combining his passion for aviation and software.

### Mission

1. **No missed maintenance** — Systems watch the details so nothing falls through the cracks.
2. **Accessible to everyone, everywhere** — Records available anytime from your phone, on the ramp or at the shop.
3. **Preserved and protected** — A living archive with a lasting backup plan.
4. **Built by a community** — Listening to owners, mechanics, and beta testers to build the right tools.

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## Platform Availability & Downloads

- **iOS** (live): https://apps.apple.com/us/app/betterplane/id6701693347
- **Android**: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.chromolylabs.betterplane.android
- **Web**: Companion web experience available to members on request via https://betterplane.com/support/

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## Contact & Support

- **Email**: hello@betterplane.com
- **Support**: https://betterplane.com/support/
- **Phone**: (737) 777-8900
- **Live chat**: Available on the website

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## Company

- **Legal entity**: BetterPlane, LLC
- **Website**: https://betterplane.com
- **Founded by**: Jason Gould