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5 Answers

Typical Spacing For VFR XC Checkpoints

Asked by: 10214 views Airspace, Commercial Pilot, General Aviation, Private Pilot

I've come to understand that VFR checkpoints should be 10-15 nm apart for typical private pilot trainers, such as C172s, warriors, 150's, etc (while still picking good, prominent checkpoints of course). What sort of VFR checkpoint spacing would you recommend for faster, higher performers - arrows, centurions, cirrus, and the like. Are there any useful formulas you would use for relating checkpoint spacing to AGL altitude and/or true airspeed? 

Thanks!

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5 Answers



  1. Kris Kortokrax on Feb 23, 2015

    Checkpoint spacing is more related to pilot experience than to aircraft type or speed. My checkpoints will be fewer and more widely spaced than the checkpoints of a low time pilot.

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  2. Dmitriy on Feb 23, 2015

    And the reason for that (continuing from Kris) is because we use checkpoints to make sure we are on course. The closer your checkpoints, the easier it will be for you to see where to go. If you feel you have the skill to space them out some more and still maintain situational awareness, then by all means.

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  3. Drew on Feb 24, 2015

    I’m a private pilot, and I use TAS/4 as a good rule of thumb. So, for typical C172s, 100-120 KTAS will get you around 25nm-30nm. I’ve heard using TAS/3 is a good rule of thumb for more experienced pilots.

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  4. Andrew Register on May 02, 2015

    FAA Part 141 school require 25NM points (they don’t have to be exactly 25, we can use anything such as towns, road intersections or radials from a VOR as long as they’re 20-30NM) I have some great x-country flight planning forms I could send you.

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  5. Mark Kolber on May 02, 2015

    The 10-15 NM checkpoints common for student xcs are primarily a training exercise. We are supposed to always know where we are and the checkpoints are really for the purpose of determining time and fuel use. On the typical student xc, we are flying about 50-75 NM, less than an hour in an airplane with 4-5 hours fuel on board. But we need to use multiple checkpoints mostly so the student has practice doing those calculations.

    IMO it is unfortunate most instructors don’t explain that to their students. I blame that as the #1 reason so many pilot do so little preflight planning once the earn their certificate. Even before GOS.

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