Aircraft Technical Log and Journey Log

Aircraft Technical Log

The Aircraft Technical Log (ATL) is a technical information system used for:
• Recording defects and malfunctions discovered during the aeroplane operation and for recording details of all maintenance carried out on the particular aeroplane;
• Recording operating information relevant to flight safety and maintenance information that the operating crew needs to know.

It shall also be used to keep a record of flying times and landings.

All known defects, suspected defects and irregularities shall be recorded in ATL until flight crews are advised that maintenance is aware of the problem.

The flight crew and engineering staff have separate responsibilities in the use of the ATL.

The Aircraft Technical Log allows the Commander to satisfy himself that the aircraft is airworthy in accordance with the approved maintenance system, MEL and CDL.

The ATL is a legal document. Details of any failure, defect or malfunction to the aeroplane including emergency systems, and any failure, defect or malfunctions in the cabin or galleys that affect the safe operation of the aeroplane or the safety of its occupants that are known to the commander must be recorded in the ATL.

The ATL is made out of self-coping paper. A unique sequence number identifies each ATL page, which comprises one original page and 3 copy pages, all in different colours.

ATL distribution shall be performed as follows:
• Original (white page) remains in the ATL booklet. When a particular ATL booklet has been completed it has to be stored on board of the aeroplane until the next ATL booklet is completed. After that it has to be removed from the aeroplane by maintenance staff and passed to the Engineering Department office;
• Pink copy is removed and inserted in the Flight Envelope for later processing;
• Yellow copy must be removed after completion by the departing Commander before each flight and handed over to the ground handling agent in order to remain at the departure station. The ground handling agent must ensure that each yellow copy received will be stored at the departing station for at least one week. Thereafter it may be discarded;
• Blue copy is dedicated to the Engineering Department and is collected by the maintenance staff after the arrival to home base.

Important: Verbal reporting to maintenance personnel does not substitute the Aircraft Technical Log system. The Commander shall avoid the temptation to only verbally pass on information about defects to maintenance personnel no matter how ‘trivial’ the defects appear to be.

General Instructions

• All Aircraft Technical Log (ATL) entries shall be printed in capital letters (excluding signature) in black or blue indelible ink and must be legible;
• Signature, not initials, will be followed by a printed surname, authorization number (if applicable), and the entry date;
• If an error is made, a line will be drawn through the entry and a new entry must be made - erasures are not permitted;
• All entries shall be made in English;
• An ATL page shall never be destroyed or deleted on account of an error;
• Maintenance action entries shall list any or all work done to correct, defer or describe troubleshooting accomplished to correct a malfunction or pilot report;
• The Commander shall verify that the ATL is on board the aeroplane and that it contains a sufficient number of pages for the flights scheduled. At least one spare Aircraft Technical Log should be on-board the aircraft. If used, the flight crew should make an entry in the Aircraft Technical Log accordingly;
• The Commander shall review the ATL for defects and the corrective actions taken on prior flight irregularities, type of service performed, and airworthiness release (if applicable);
• The Commander will record the oil quantity indicated by the flight deck instrumentation. Physical checks of engine oil quantity will be carried out by Maintenance in accordance with the maintenance programme. When this has been done the engineer will make the Aircraft Technical Log entry and sign.

The following entries in the Aircraft Technical Log shall be made:

• The Commander shall fill all required items as applicable and enter any defect in the defect area at the end of each flight;
• Details of any defect in any part of the aircraft or its equipment known to the aircraft Commander shall be entered. If no defects were encountered, a statement “NIL” shall be entered for the continuity of records;
• The date, place and times at which the aircraft take-off and land;
• The number of landings/flight cycles;
• Engine condition monitoring data recorded (in-flight readings);
• Arrival data certification by the Commander leaving the aircraft;
• The quantity of fuel, oil and hydraulics uplifted and the quantity of fuel available in each tank at the beginning and end of each flight. In the same units of quantity, the amount of fuel actually uplifted must be entered;
• A statement signed by the certifying staff relating to item above;
• If applicable, the time when ground de-icing and/or anti-icing was started and the type of fluid applied, including the mixture ratio of fluid/water;
• Details of the corrective action taken to rectify recorded defects;
• Part, serial and batch numbers of replaced components;
• A Certificate of Release to Service (CRS) relating to the rectification of any defect, and/or authorization of daily checks;
• Signature of the Commander accepting the aircraft for the flight after satisfying himself that the aircraft is fit for the flight and the stated fuel quantities is on-board the aircraft.

Aircraft Technical Log Sample

Deferred Maintenance Items (DMI) Procedure

All The Company MEL related deferred defects must also be recorded on the applicable aeroplane Deferred Maintenance Items (DMI) folder. The following information has to be recorded in the DMI folder:

• Applicable consecutive DMI entry number;
• ATL Sequence Number of the related ATL page in order to cross refer to the origin of the DMI entry;
• Defect description as defined on the related ATL page;
• Any required spare part number (if applicable);
• Signature and stamping with authorisation number of the authorized maintenance person, who has transferred the defect to DMI;
• The date when the defect was transfer to the DMI;
• The applicable MEL Code and its applicable repair interval time limit.

When a defect, which has been recorded on the DMI, becomes rectified, a proper ATL entry has to be performed by the certifying maintenance staff in order to record the particular maintenance action and to ensure the cross-reference to the particular DMI entry. In addition the following information has to be recorded in the applicable DMI by the person who has cleared the particular DMI item:

• ATL Sequence Number of the ATL page on which the related defect rectification was recorded in order to cross-refer to the origin of the DMI item clearance;
• Signature and stamping with authorisation number of the authorized maintenance person who clears the applicable DMI item;
• The date when the DMI item has been cleared.

Deferred Maintenance Items (DMI) Sample

Damage Chart

Minor damages to aeroplane exterior such as dents, scratches and visible repairs (e.g. patches on the fuselage) within acceptable limits shall be marked to avoid repeated dealing with the same damage. The marking shall be done by the approved line maintenance staff according to the following guidelines:

• The damaged spots will be marked by a red dot of 5 – 8 mm at the most characteristic point (e.g. deepest point of a dent, next to a scratch, etc.). For this purpose a resistant red colour for aeroplane exterior should be used;
• All damages within acceptable limits and all already repaired damages shall be marked;
• All marked damages shall be documented in the Damage Chart;
• Damage to windscreen shall only be documented in the Damage Chart (not marked on the windscreen). Windscreen delamination can be marked as a damaged area.

Pilots should check if all defects or damage discovered during walk-around have already been marked and documented in the Damage Chart. In case of an observed new damage, Aircraft Technical Log (ATL) entry shall be made by the Commander.

Cabin Defects

Certain cabin defect may influence aeroplane’s overall safety status and shall be recorded in Aircraft Technical Log (ATL). All cabin crew members are responsible for informing CIC and/or Commander about cabin defects in the respective areas upon their discovery before or during a flight. The following list indicates cabin defects that must be recorded in the ATL. It is not limiting, and Commanders must exercise their judgment when recording cabin defects to ATL:

• Any MEL related item;
• Any safety related defect;
• PA/Interphone system;
• Portable Oxygen System;
• Floor proximity Emergency Escape path lighting system;
• Cabin emergency lights;
• Emergency slides and rafts;
• Evacuation System;
• No smoking and Fasten Seat Belts signs;
• Lavatory smoke detection and extinguishing system;
• Smoke/fire/sparks or smell of smoke in the cabin;
• Crew and/or passenger seat belts defect;
• Cabin crew seat mechanical defects;
• Passenger seat mounting or recline mechanism;
• Under seat baggage restraint bars;
• Cabin overhead locker mechanisms;
• Passenger main or emergency door defects;
• Cockroach or rodent seen in the cabin;
• Passenger evacuation systems/placards/markings;
• Passenger tray will not extend/secure up;
• Un-serviceability of galley inserts e.g. ovens/water boilers/beverage makers and equipment utilising galley power supplies including unserviceable meal carts;
• Lavatory equipment/block drains/toilet door locks/potable water systems/water leaks from washbasins and spillage of toilet fluid inside or outside the aeroplane;
• Carpet tear/dirty/lifting/capping strips missing;
• Curtains/rails/tie backs.

Journey Log

General

Journey Log is prepared for each commercial, training or technical flight in The Company as an integral part of Company flight scheduling information system.

Journey Log is prepared for series of flights delegated to one Commander with following information to be filled:

• Aircraft type and registration;
• Date/day of month of the departure date;
• Captain and First Officer sectors flown;
• Flight data (ATL number, flight number);
• Sector (departure/arrival place);
• Scheduled times;
• Block and flight times;
• Delay information (time and code);
• Load information (passengers, baggage);
• Fuel record;
• Crew (names of crew members);
• Flight crew records (duty time information for all crew members);
• Captain’s (Commander’s) comments;
• Captain’s (Commander’s) signature.

All Journey Log entries shall be printed in capital letters (excluding signature) in black or blue indelible ink and must be legible.

All entries shall be made in English.

The Journey Log is made out of self-coping paper. Each Journey Log page comprises of one original page and 3 copy pages, all in different colours.

A Commander shall ensure that the Journey Log is properly completed by First Officer before he signs it and that original (white page) is inserted in the Flight Envelope for later processing.

Pink copy is removed and retained by the Commander for personal record.

Blue copy must be removed after completion and handed over to CIC for cabin crew records.

Yellow copy – reserved.