There are only two types of hourly times relevant to flying and piloting.
From FAR 1.
Flight time means:
(1) Pilot time that commences when an aircraft moves under its own power for the purpose of flight and ends when the aircraft comes to rest after landing; or
(2) For a glider without self-launch capability, pilot time that commences when the glider is towed for the purpose of flight and ends when the glider comes to rest after landing.
and
Time in service, with respect to maintenance time records, means the time from the moment an aircraft leaves the surface of the earth until it touches it at the next point of landing.
So - -
Flight Time goes in your pilot log book and
Time in Service goes in your aircraft's journey log and maintenance records.
This from AC 43-9:
8. RECORDINGTACHOMETERS.
a. Time-in-service recording devices sense such things as electrical power on, oil pressure, wheels on the ground, etc. , and from these conditions provide an indication of time-in-service. With the exception of those that sense aircraft lift-off and touchdown, the indications are approximate.
b. Some owners and operators mistakenly believe these devices may be used in lieu of keeping time-in-service in the maintenance record. While they are of great assistance in arriving at the time-in-service, such instruments, alone, do not meet the requirements of section 91.4 17. For example, when the device fails and requires change, it is necessary to enter time-in-service and the instrument reading at the change. Otherwise, record continuity is lost.
g. Section 91,417(a)(2). Requires six items to be made a part of the maintenance record and maintained as such. Section 43.9 does not require maintenance personnel to enter these items. Section 43.11 requires some of them to be part of entries made for inspections, but they are all the responsibility of the owner or operator. The six items are discussed as follows:
(1) Section 91.417(a)(2)(i). Requires a record of
total time-in-service to be kept for the airframe, each engine, and each propeller. Part 1, section 1.1, Definitions, defines time in service, with respect to maintenance time records, as that time from the moment an aircraft leaves the surface of the earth until it touches down at the next point of landing. Section 43.9 does not require this to be part of the entries for maintenance, preventive maintenance, rebuilding, or alterations. However, section 43.11 requires maintenance personnel to make it a part of the entries for inspections made under parts 91, 125, and time-in-service in all entries.
The record of
Time in Service is a required part of the Aircraft Records and should be auditable.
I'm using a Excel generated form that you can see and copy for free at:
http://www.twisted-wrench.com/files/2_-_GA_Aircraft_Times_and_Landings.pdf
You can modify this form to your likes but it will satisfy the requirement for a Time In Service Record.
Skyview has a time tracking feature that records Time in Service pretty close. From the Skyview pilot's manual:
The
Total Air Timer - labeled
AIR TOTAL when displayed on an Engine Page - runs any time that SkyView determines that the aircraft is in flight. SkyView uses the presence of significant airspeed or GPS speed to decide whether the aircraft is flying. This timer can only be reset or adjusted in the Aircraft Information menu within SkyView Setup. See the SkyView System Installation Guide for information about using SkyView?s Setup Menu.
The
Air Timer - labeled
AIR TIME when displayed on an Engine Page - runs any time SkyView determines the aircraft is in flight. SkyView uses the presence of significant airspeed or GPS speed to decide whether the aircraft is flying. Resets as SkyView detects that the aircraft has transition to ?in the air? This time is also optionally used to calculate the Switch Fuel Tank Reminder.
The
Air Trip Timer - labeled
AIR TRIP when displayed on an Engine Page -runs any time that SkyView determines that the aircraft is in flight, just like the Total Flight Timer. Unlike the Total Air Timer, it can be reset by pressing ENGINE > CLR TMR.