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100 nm day/night XC – 61.129 (3) (iii) and (iv) – checking my understanding

Asked by: 2626 views Commercial Pilot, FAA Regulations

Hi all - just checking my understanding before lining this up with a commercial ASEL client - 

briefly, the requirement is a XC with an instructor of 100 nm straight-line distance AND 2 hours.  

Question is - he has a Piper Lance, which will take us all of about 45 minutes to do 100 nm.  Just to be sure my understanding is ok, as long as the distance is 100nm, there is no reason we can't do some slow flight, maneuvers or diversions, etc to eat up that time?  Is the 2 hour requirement including the whole there and back trip?  Or just to the destination?  Seems like this requirement was designed around Cubs and 152s.

I'd like to go to an airport around 120nm from here, taking 2 hours to do so (vor tracking, slow flight, maneuvers, etc) then get out and eat then do the same at night for the trip back and get them both done in one day with him.

Advice appreciated in advance.  Adam

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3 Answers



  1. Kris Kortokrax on Jan 28, 2019

    The 2 hours is for the whole trip (each trip, day & night).

    You need to account for the time, as well as the distance.

    Why not just fly out 2 hours, eat dinner, then fly back 2 hours at night?
    You don’t need to fly at best power cruise. You could fly at an economy cruise setting.

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  2. ayavner on Jan 28, 2019

    thanks Kris, that is exactly what I had in mind – 2 hours out then 2 hours back at night. If we go slow enough and perhaps some lost/diversion/emergency practice along the way we should be able to get to our intended place (great BBQ) in that time.

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  3. WESS on Jan 29, 2019

    Just asked my CFI this question today and our understanding was that the whole flight needs to be 2 hours during the night with a minimal distance of 100nm on each leg. If you’re like me and have the necessary hours for the commercial, you could save the 4 hour flight. I am looking to incorporate into my complex training the night xc.

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