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Instructors log cross country time

Asked by: 2514 views Flight Instructor

Can a flight instructor technically log cross country time whenever they land at another airport (with a student) regardless of the distance? According to 61.1, you can log it if you have a private license, in an aircraft and land at a point other than the point of departure. It only requires 50 nm when you're going for aeronautical experience requirements which an instructor is not. Thoughts?

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2 Answers



  1. CFIsince1990 on Sep 07, 2017

    Yes, as long as you are conducting flight training under the same conditions of flight and type of flight in an airplane and operation you are rated for. Also, 61.51 (e)(1)(D)(3) allows a certified flight instructor to log PIC flight time for all flight time while serving as the authorized instructor in an operation if the instructor is rated to act as PIC of that aircraft.

    I guess your question is can a short 20 mile flight to another airport (with landing) be logged by the instructor as cross country time even though it does not count for cross country time for a student pilot as far as the required aeronautical experience goes.

    I would think both could log it as cross country time, but it just would not count toward the aeronautical experience totals for a private, commercial, or instrument pilot applicant, although it would count for TOTAL cross country time in your logbook.

    Ideas?

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  2. CFIsince1990 on Sep 07, 2017

    change \”your logbook\” to \”both (student and instructor) logbooks\”

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