What is required according to 14 CFR 61.189 for flight instructors?

According to 14 CFR 61.189, flight instructors are required to sign the logbook of each person they train. This requirement serves several important purposes. First, it provides an official record of the training that the student has received, which is essential for tracking progress and for the student to present when demonstrating their qualifications. When a flight instructor signs the logbook, they are vouching for the accuracy of the entries documented there, which includes the type and amount of flight training the student has completed. This is particularly important for certification processes, where proof of flight experience and training is mandated.

The process of signing logbooks also reinforces the accountability of the instructor in the educational process, establishing a formal relationship between the instructor and the student. This requirement supports the integrity of the flight training system by ensuring that all training activities are properly documented and can be verified by authorities if needed. Other options, while they may be good practices in their own right, do not carry the regulatory weight of the logbook signature requirement defined in the regulation.