The FAA defines a cross-country flight based on the context of the type of pilot certificate or the type of operation. Here’s a breakdown of the FAA’s definition:
1. FAA Definition of Cross-Country Flight for a Student Pilot:
For a student pilot, a cross-country flight is defined as a flight that:
- Is at least 50 nautical miles away from the original departure point.
- Includes at least one landing at an airport that is different from the departure airport.
2. FAA Definition of Cross-Country Flight for Other Pilots (e.g., Private Pilots, Commercial Pilots):
For other pilots (such as private, commercial, or airline transport pilots), the FAA defines a cross-country flight as:
- A flight that is a direct navigation from the departure point to a destination.
- The flight must cover a distance of at least 50 nautical miles from the departure airport, or it can be a flight that meets specific requirements outlined for cross-country flight time to count toward flight hour totals for certification purposes.
For example, a Private Pilot Certificate requires 50 hours of cross-country flight time as part of the total required flight time. In this context, cross-country flight time can include flights over 50 nautical miles and may involve multiple landings at different airports.
3. Cross-Country Flight Time for Certification:
For pilots working toward certification (e.g., Private Pilot, Commercial Pilot), the FAA also specifies that certain cross-country flight time counts toward meeting certification requirements. For instance:
- Private Pilot Certificate: Requires a minimum of 50 hours of cross-country flight time.
- Instrument Rating: The flight time can also be counted as cross-country when the pilot meets the necessary conditions for the rating.
4. Specific Conditions for Cross-Country Flight (for certification purposes):
To log flight time as cross-country toward a rating, it must meet specific conditions, including:
- The flight must be at least 50 nautical miles from the departure airport.
- For it to count toward certification (e.g., for a private or commercial pilot certificate), it must be conducted under VFR or IFR if the pilot holds an instrument rating.
Summary:
- For a student pilot, a cross-country flight is any flight that is at least 50 nautical miles away from the departure airport, with at least one landing at a different airport.
- For other pilots (such as Private Pilots), a cross-country flight is a flight that is 50 nautical miles or more away from the departure airport and often needs to meet specific distance and time requirements for flight hour logging toward certification.
Let me know if you'd like more details on cross-country flight time logging or how it relates to pilot certification!
CLICK 👉 download 300 aviation books just 1 MB
CLICK 👉 AIRBUS A320 COURSE
CLICK 👉 BOEING 737 PILOT COURSE
CLICK 👉 BOEING 747 PILOT COURSE
CLICK 👉 BOEING 757 PILOT COURSE
CLICK 👉 BOEING 767 PILOT COURSE
CLICK 👉 BOEING 777 PILOT COURSE
CLICK 👉 BOEING 787 PILOT COURSE
CLICK 👉 CESSNA 150 PILOT COURSE
CLICK 👉 CESSNA 152 COURSE
CLICK 👉 CESSNA 162 SKYCATCHER
CLICK 👉 CESSNA 172N SKYHAWK
CLICK 👉 CESSNA 172S COURSE
CLICK 👉 CESSNA 182T SKYLANE
CLICK 👉 ROBINSON R22 COURSE
CLICK 👉 ROBINSON R44 RAVEN II