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2 Answers

Solo really solo?

Asked by: 4154 views , ,
Commercial Pilot, FAA Regulations, Student Pilot

For a solo cross country, are you required to be the only person in the aircraft or just the sole manipulator of the controls?

       ...was thinking of bringing my Gf along on one of my required long solo cross country flights.

 

-- Chris

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2 Answers



  1. John D Collins on Dec 20, 2013

    I assume you are asking the question being a rated pilot and not a student pilot. In the latter case, it would violate the regulations. In the case of a rated pilot, working on a solo cross country requirement for the commercial rating, you would not be in violation of the regulations to take your GF along, but it could not be counted as solo time and meet the requirements for 61.129(a)(4). It would count towards the total cross country time in 61.129(a)(2)(ii), but not the solo time requirement. The only exception to this is if your GF is a CFI.

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  2. Mark Kolber on Dec 21, 2013

    John, despite the votes, I’m actually confused by your answer. The question was whether he could take his GF along on his qualifying solo cross country flight. I’m not sure what “you would not be in violation of the regulations to take your GF along, but it could not be counted as solo time ” means.

    To simplify, “solo” time is listed as one of the logging conditions in the Universal Rule of Logging Flight Time.” FAR 61.51: “a pilot may log as solo flight time only that flight time when the pilot is the sole occupant of the aircraft.”

    “Sole occupant” means just that – the only human being on board.

    For any requirement that specifies “solo” flight time, from student pilot to ATP, no human passengers are permitted.

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