diff --git a/libraries/DataFlash/DataFlash.h b/libraries/DataFlash/DataFlash.h
index 04c108974d..0e246fda21 100644
--- a/libraries/DataFlash/DataFlash.h
+++ b/libraries/DataFlash/DataFlash.h
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ public:
 
     /* logging methods common to all vehicles */
     uint16_t StartNewLog(void);
+    void AddLogFormats(const struct LogStructure *structures, uint8_t num_types);
     void EnableWrites(bool enable) { _writes_enabled = enable; }
     void Log_Write_Format(const struct LogStructure *structure);
     void Log_Write_Parameter(const char *name, float value);
@@ -387,6 +388,8 @@ struct PACKED log_Radio {
     { LOG_RADIO_MSG, sizeof(log_Radio), \
       "RAD", "IBBBBBHH", "TimeMS,RSSI,RemRSSI,TxBuf,Noise,RemNoise,RxErrors,Fixed" }
 
+// message types 0 to 100 reversed for vehicle specific use
+
 // message types for common messages
 #define LOG_FORMAT_MSG	  128
 #define LOG_PARAMETER_MSG 129
@@ -408,6 +411,8 @@ struct PACKED log_Radio {
 #define LOG_CMD_MSG       145
 #define LOG_RADIO_MSG	  146
 
+// message types 200 to 210 reversed for GPS driver use
+
 #include "DataFlash_Block.h"
 #include "DataFlash_File.h"
 
diff --git a/libraries/DataFlash/LogFile.cpp b/libraries/DataFlash/LogFile.cpp
index f5042424c7..0ce7870637 100644
--- a/libraries/DataFlash/LogFile.cpp
+++ b/libraries/DataFlash/LogFile.cpp
@@ -576,6 +576,16 @@ uint16_t DataFlash_Class::StartNewLog(void)
     return ret;
 }
 
+// add new logging formats to the log. Used by libraries that want to
+// add their own log messages
+void DataFlash_Class::AddLogFormats(const struct LogStructure *structures, uint8_t num_types)
+{
+    // write new log formats
+    for (uint8_t i=0; i<num_types; i++) {
+        Log_Write_Format(&structures[i]);
+    }
+}
+
 /*
   write a structure format to the log
  */