diff --git a/ArduPlane/AP_Arming.cpp b/ArduPlane/AP_Arming.cpp
index 9e0f6e2b56..23a17378f8 100644
--- a/ArduPlane/AP_Arming.cpp
+++ b/ArduPlane/AP_Arming.cpp
@@ -23,18 +23,6 @@ enum HomeState AP_Arming_Plane::home_status() const
     return plane.home_is_set;
 }
 
-bool AP_Arming_Plane::arm(uint8_t method)
-{
-    // start logging here so we can check success or failure in
-    // arm_checks
-    if (plane.g.log_bitmask != NONE &&
-        !plane.DataFlash.logging_started()) {
-        plane.start_logging();
-    }
-
-    return AP_Arming::arm(method);
-}
-
 /*
   additional arming checks for plane
 
diff --git a/ArduPlane/AP_Arming.h b/ArduPlane/AP_Arming.h
index 1ca909a50e..bf694221c3 100644
--- a/ArduPlane/AP_Arming.h
+++ b/ArduPlane/AP_Arming.h
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ public:
             AP_Param::setup_object_defaults(this, var_info);
     }
     bool pre_arm_checks(bool report);
-    bool arm(uint8_t method) override;
 
     ArmingRudder rudder_arming() const { return (ArmingRudder)rudder_arming_value.get(); }
 
diff --git a/ArduPlane/Log.cpp b/ArduPlane/Log.cpp
index 4e68dcb013..bf684a0486 100644
--- a/ArduPlane/Log.cpp
+++ b/ArduPlane/Log.cpp
@@ -558,12 +558,6 @@ void Plane::Log_Write_Vehicle_Startup_Messages()
     gps.Write_DataFlash_Log_Startup_messages();
 }
 
-// start a new log
-void Plane::start_logging() 
-{
-    DataFlash.StartUnstartedLogging();
-}
-
 /*
   initialise logging subsystem
  */
@@ -611,7 +605,6 @@ void Plane::Log_Write_Home_And_Origin() {}
 void Plane::Log_Read(uint16_t log_num, int16_t start_page, int16_t end_page) {}
  #endif // CLI_ENABLED
 
-void Plane::start_logging() {}
 void Plane::log_init(void) {}
 
 #endif // LOGGING_ENABLED
diff --git a/ArduPlane/Plane.h b/ArduPlane/Plane.h
index ad56427197..ad3da4b6b6 100644
--- a/ArduPlane/Plane.h
+++ b/ArduPlane/Plane.h
@@ -847,7 +847,6 @@ private:
     void Log_Write_Vehicle_Startup_Messages();
     void Log_Write_AOA_SSA();
     void Log_Read(uint16_t log_num, int16_t start_page, int16_t end_page);
-    void start_logging();
 
     void load_parameters(void);
     void adjust_altitude_target();
diff --git a/ArduPlane/system.cpp b/ArduPlane/system.cpp
index 47f27ac9e0..29a70cba97 100644
--- a/ArduPlane/system.cpp
+++ b/ArduPlane/system.cpp
@@ -838,11 +838,7 @@ void Plane::print_comma(void)
 bool Plane::should_log(uint32_t mask)
 {
 #if LOGGING_ENABLED == ENABLED
-    if (!DataFlash.should_log(mask)) {
-        return false;
-    }
-    start_logging();
-    return true;
+    return DataFlash.should_log(mask);
 #else
     return false;
 #endif