Cross-country Flight
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Cross-country flying ( XC flying) is a type of distance flying which is performed in a powered aircraft on legs over a given distance and in operations between two points using navigational techniques; and an unpowered aircraft (
paraglider Paragliding is the recreational and competitive adventure sport of flying paragliders: lightweight, free-flying, foot-launched Glider (aircraft), glider aircraft with no rigid primary structure. The pilot sits in a :wikt:harness, harness or in ...
,
hang glider Hang gliding is an air sport or recreational activity in which a pilot flies a light, non-motorised, fixed-wing heavier-than-air aircraft called a hang glider. Most modern hang gliders are made of an aluminium alloy or composite frame covered ...
or
sailplane A glider or sailplane is a type of glider aircraft used in the leisure activity and sport of gliding (also called soaring). This unpowered aircraft can use naturally occurring currents of rising air in the atmosphere to gain altitude. Sailplan ...
) by using upcurrents to gain altitude for extended flying time. Cross country is distinct from purely aerial work in a small defined area requiring little navigation. Cross-country
flight time Flight time or block time is an aviation term referring to the total amount of time spent piloting aircraft, and serves as the primary measure of a pilot's experience. Flight time is defined by International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) as ...
is required by many countries for the issuance of various pilot licences. For example, in
EASA The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is an agency of the European Commission with responsibility for civil aviation safety in the European Union. It carries out certification, regulation and standardisation and also performs inve ...
states, all pilot licences and instrument ratings have minimum cross-country flight time requirements.


Official definitions by country


Canada

Transport Canada does not provide a definition of "cross-country" flight in the
Canadian Aviation Regulations The Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) are the rules that govern civil aviation in Canada. Establishment The CARs became law on October 10, 1996, replacing the former Air Regulations and Air Navigation Orders. The authority for the establishm ...
(CARs), however, a general consensus among pilots is that, in order to log "cross-country time" in a pilot's
logbook A logbook (or log book) is a record used to record states, events, or conditions applicable to complex machines or the personnel who operate them. Logbooks are commonly associated with the operation of aircraft, nuclear plants, particle accelera ...
, the pilot must have demonstrated some kind of navigational ability during the logged period of time. This is substantiated by references to: *the requirement to file a flight plan beyond 25 nautical miles of the departure
aerodrome An aerodrome, airfield, or airstrip is a location from which aircraft flight operations take place, regardless of whether they involve air cargo, passengers, or neither, and regardless of whether it is for public or private use. Aerodromes inc ...
for "cross-country flights," *the requirement to carry an
Emergency Locator Transmitter An emergency position-indicating radiobeacon (EPIRB) is a type of emergency locator beacon for commercial and recreational boats; it is a portable, battery-powered radio transmitter used in emergencies to locate boaters in distress and in nee ...
for "cross-country flights," and *the stipulations in the Commercial Licence Requirements for travel between two different airports. In many cases, however, there are conflicts of opinion as to the definition; if, for example, a pilot flew from Langley Airport ( CYNJ) to Abbotsford Airport ( CYXX), the distance would be only 12  NM. In this instance, calling the flight "cross-country" seems not to fit within the requirement to use "navigational ability" since the two airports are within sight of one another even from very low altitudes.


European Union (EU) countries


General Definition

In the context of aviation regulations, such as
EASA The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is an agency of the European Commission with responsibility for civil aviation safety in the European Union. It carries out certification, regulation and standardisation and also performs inve ...
or FAA, a cross-country flight often has specific definitions and conditions depending on the purpose. In Commission Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011, cross-country flight is defined as ''"a flight between a point of departure and a point of arrival following a pre-planned route, using standard
navigation Navigation is a field of study that focuses on the process of monitoring and controlling the motion, movement of a craft or vehicle from one place to another.Bowditch, 2003:799. The field of navigation includes four general categories: land navig ...
procedures"''. It is mentioned in the context of requirements for pilot training, licensing, and certification. Specifically, it is included as part of the criteria for obtaining various licenses, such as the Private Pilot License (PPL), Commercial Pilot License (CPL), and Instrument Rating (IR).


Regulatory Requirements (e.g., for pilot training)

For obtaining a private pilot license (PPL), commercial pilot license (CPL), or instrument rating (IR),(EASA Part-FCL) FCL.615 (Instrument Rating): Requires a cross-country flight under instrument flight rules (IFR). cross-country flight requirements often include minimum distances, flight time, and landings at designated points. Cross-country flying emphasizes navigation skills, including map reading, chart plotting, GPS usage, and handling en-route airspace transitions. * European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA): Cross-country flight requirements may vary but typically include multiple legs and landings at aerodromes other than the departure airport. * Federal Aviation Administration (FAA): For certain certifications, a cross-country flight must include: A landing at an airport that is more than 50 nautical miles from the departure point.


United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, cross-country flight is defined as "any flight during the course of which the aircraft is more than three nautical miles from the aerodrome of departure."


United States

Per title 14 of the code of federal regulations (14 CFR), a.k.a. the
Federal Aviation Regulations The Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) are rules prescribed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) governing all aviation activities in the United States. The FARs comprise Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR). A wide var ...
(FARs), part 61, section 1.b (3) Cross-country time means:


References

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External links


Cross Country Flying 101
General aviation Aircraft operations Flight planning