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Logging xcountry time?

Asked by: 757 views Commercial Pilot, FAA Regulations, Flight Instructor

Hey all I'm 750 hours deep and I'm just now hearing something about logging xcountry when flying from one airport to another, point to point. Previously I have only logged xcountry time when the airport in question is more than 50nm from my departure. I regularly fly to one airport that is 15-20nm and others that are just short of 50nm straight line distance. I have heard that the airport only needs to be greater than 50nm when pertaining to the requirements for qualifying for a rating? Does this mean I can log xcountry time otherwise when flying from one airport to another, point to point, regardless of distance? I only want to put it in my logbook if I can justify it if asked. Anyone know about this? What do you guys do or have heard about this? TIA

 

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2 Answers



  1. John D Collins on Aug 05, 2023

    Straight from the definition in 61.1:

    Cross-country time means—

    (i) Except as provided in paragraphs (ii) through (vi) of this definition, time acquired during flight—
    (A) Conducted by a person who holds a pilot certificate;
    (B) Conducted in an aircraft;
    (C) That includes a landing at a point other than the point of departure; and
    (D) That involves the use of dead reckoning, pilotage, electronic navigation aids, radio aids, or other navigation systems to navigate to the landing point.

    (ii) For the purpose of meeting the aeronautical experience requirements (except for a rotorcraft category rating), for a private pilot certificate (except for a powered parachute category rating), a commercial pilot certificate, or an instrument rating, or for the purpose of exercising recreational pilot privileges (except in a rotorcraft) under § 61.101 (c), time acquired during a flight—

    (A) Conducted in an appropriate aircraft;
    (B) That includes a point of landing that was at least a straight-line distance of more than 50 nautical miles from the original point of departure; and
    (C) That involves the use of dead reckoning, pilotage, electronic navigation aids, radio aids, or other navigation systems to navigate to the landing point.

    So as long as you are not counting the cross country towards a rating, anytime you takeoff at one airport and land at another is cross country. If you already have your commercial rating, you don’t need to worry about only counting the cross country that are greater than 50 NM towards qualifying for the experience requirements.

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  2. Mark Kolber on Aug 07, 2023

    As John said, the various definitions mean, yes you can.

    My question back to you is, do you want or need to? From a pilot standpoint, the only thing the shorter cross countries are good for is meeting Part 135 minimums. When you apply for your next certificate or rating, do you really want to go through your logbook deducting all those shorter cross countries so you don’t accidentally falsify your application?

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