Our Story

We didn't set out to build software.
We set out to fix a problem.

Founded by pilots, for pilots. Plogbook was born from real experience running flying clubs and schools, from managing bookings to maintaining aircraft. Every feature is built from the inside out, shaped by over 15 years of hands-on aviation experience, not by assumptions detached from real operational environments.

How We Got Here

From spreadsheet frustration to platform.

Plogbook kiosk at Cotswold

Plogbook was founded by two pilots who experienced first-hand the realities of running General Aviation organisations. From juggling spreadsheets for aircraft bookings to chasing paper maintenance logs and managing fragmented systems, it quickly became clear that the industry was relying on tools that hadn't kept pace with how clubs and schools actually operate.

What began as a simple scheduling tool for a local flying club evolved into a fully-featured platform used by syndicates, flying clubs, and flight schools across the UK. Every part of Plogbook has been shaped through real conversations with real aviators, instructors, owners, and members, who needed software that works intuitively, reliably, and in the real world.

Today, Plogbook is trusted by organisations of all sizes to manage fleets, track student progress, handle payments, and stay on top of maintenance and compliance. While the platform continues to grow, our focus remains the same: building practical, pilot-led tools that help General Aviation thrive.

In an industry that's now flooded with new software and AI-driven tools promising to solve individual problems, Plogbook stands apart because it wasn't built from the outside in, it was built from the inside out. The platform was developed while actively running a flying school, managing aircraft, members, instructors, and maintenance in the real world. That hands-on experience, built over more than 15 years operating flight school aircraft and syndicates, means Plogbook is shaped by what actually matters day to day, not by assumptions detached from real operational environments.

What Guides Us

Three things we won't compromise on

Safety

Every feature we build considers the safety chain. Defect tracking, maintenance alerts, student records, they all exist to protect pilots, passengers, and aircraft.

Community

General aviation thrives on people. Plogbook strengthens the connections between pilots, clubs, and schools, not just the processes between them.

Innovation

We ship new features regularly based on what our users tell us they need, not what we think looks good on a product roadmap.

Milestones

Seven years of building what aviation needs.

Cockpit view
2019
Initial concept developed while running a busy flying club. A simple scheduling tool is born out of necessity.
2020-2022
Core booking system, digital tech logs, and maintenance reporting built, tested, and refined in live operations.
2023
Plogbook is officially branded and launched. First external flying club onboarded.
2024
Incorporated as a limited company. Maintenance tracking, student records, and Stripe-powered payments go live.
2025
Expanded to serve flight schools and multi-base organisations. Platform scales significantly.
2026
Social features and the partner programme launch. The GA Innovation Network takes shape.
Our Clients

Trusted by organisations across the UK

Compton Flight Training Take Flight Aviation Cotswold Flight Training G-TFAM Fractional Ownership
The People

Pilots first.
Software engineers second.

Plogbook isn't built by a distant tech company. It's built by two pilots who've spent years running the kind of operations you run today.

Sam Roberts

Sam Roberts

Co-Founder

Sam has a decade of experience running flying clubs and schools, making him a seasoned expert in aviation operations. A dedicated pilot, Sam has held his Private Pilot License (PPL) for 8 years. At Plogbook, Sam spearheads the commercial and sales sector, ensuring Plogbook stays connected with the aviation community helping to continue meeting their needs. His profound expertise in general aviation drives the core of everything we do.

Will Brazier

Will Brazier

Co-Founder

Will brings over 12 years of expertise in software development to the Plogbook team. A passionate aviator, Will has been flying for more than a decade and holds both a UK PPL and IR(R), as well as an FAA PPL. As the driving force behind Plogbook's development, Will ensures the platform is cutting-edge, reliable, and tailored to the needs of pilots and flying clubs alike. His combined love of flying and technology fuels the innovation behind Plogbook.

Our Mission

"To inspire pilots to fly more by fostering stronger connections and elevating safety through innovation and community"

FAQ

Common questions,
straight answers.

Plogbook is an all-in-one platform for managing aviation organisations. It handles scheduling, flight logging, maintenance tracking, student records, and online payments — replacing the patchwork of spreadsheets, paper logs, and disconnected tools that most clubs and schools rely on.
Plogbook supports multiple user roles — members, instructors, administrators, and more — each with configurable permissions. You control exactly who can see what and do what across your organisation.
Anyone running an aviation operation — from a two-person syndicate sharing a Cessna to a multi-base flight school with dozens of aircraft and instructors. We have plans for every size of organisation.
We provide personalised onboarding for every new organisation — including direct video calls, step-by-step walkthroughs, and hands-on setup assistance. Our goal is for your team to feel confident from day one.
Members see a live visual calendar showing aircraft and instructor availability. They select a slot, confirm the booking, and everyone involved gets an automatic notification. The Availability Finder tool makes it easy to search across aircraft types, bases, and instructor schedules.
We actively encourage it. Many of the features in Plogbook today exist because a customer asked for them. We maintain a public roadmap shaped by real user feedback — your input genuinely influences what we build.
Plogbook uses Stripe and Stripe Connect for secure card payments. Flight costs are calculated automatically after each flight and can be charged directly or deducted from account credit. We also support membership fee collection, invoicing, and Xero integration.
Yes. We offer tailored training sessions for instructors, administrators, and club members — designed to get everyone comfortable and productive with the platform quickly.
Absolutely. Booking rules, pricing structures, student syllabuses, maintenance schedules, notification templates, and member permissions can all be tailored to how your organisation actually operates.
You set your aircraft rates, fuel pricing, and instructor fees. After each flight is logged, Plogbook calculates the cost automatically and either charges the member's card or deducts from their account balance. No chasing, no manual invoices.