Plain English Meaning
The written history of the aircraft. Every time work is done on the airframe, engine, or propeller, a mechanic signs an entry in these books. The pilot reviews them before flight to confirm the aircraft is legal and safe to fly.
Full Definition
The official maintenance records for an aircraft, consisting of separate books for the airframe, each engine, and each propeller. They contain the dated entries made by mechanics and inspectors that document inspections, repairs, alterations, airworthiness directive compliance, and the current status of required inspections.
Context Anchor
A pilot encounters logbooks during , especially when confirming that required inspections and signoffs are current before accepting an aircraft for flight.