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Sport pilot xcountry

Asked by: 821 views FAA Regulations, Flight Instructor, Light Sport Aircraft, Student Pilot

Hey all so I have a sport pilot student and it's kind of a unusual and rare rating to get but it suits his needs. There is only one examiner in my state that doesn't his checkride. My question is about the Xcountry time. Usually for ppl you log xcountry time for the rating when the airport is 50nm or more straight distance but for this case. I notice the sport pilot requirement requires airport of 25nm or more. Does this mean he can log any landings at airports more than 25 as xcountry time? Anyone with any experience or insight on this? 

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1 Answers



  1. Jeff Baum on Aug 05, 2023

    Read the verbiage of the regulation. Read the actual regulation, and not what some guy on youtube says the regulation says. Then ask yourself questions regarding the regulation.

    As an example…

    “61.1(b)(iii) For the purpose of meeting the aeronautical experience requirements for a sport pilot certificate (except for powered parachute privileges), time acquired during a flight conducted in an appropriate aircraft that—
    (A) Includes a point of landing at least a straight line distance of more than 25 nautical miles from the original point of departure; and
    (B) Involves, as applicable, the use of dead reckoning; pilotage; electronic navigation aids; radio aids; or other navigation systems to navigate to the landing point.”

    Did the Sport Pilot Student fly from one airport to another airport?
    Yes? Then that qualifies as a “cross country” but may not meet the other requirements listed in 61.1(b)(iii)

    Did the flight involve a leg with a straight-line distance of at least 25 NM?
    Yes? Then it meets the requirement and may be be used towards a Sport Pilot Certificate
    No? Then it does not

    Did the flight involve one or more of the navigation systems/methods listed in (B)?
    Yes? Then it meets the requirement
    No? Then it doesn’t… and then how the heck did they find the other airport?? ;-D

    +2 Votes Thumb up 2 Votes Thumb down 0 Votes


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