Student Pilot’s Guide to Cross Country Planning

Accomplishing your private pilot certificate is an adventure no matter the category and class you’re exploring.

Unless you’re learning in a glider or a balloon, at some point in your training it will be time to leave the proverbial nest of your local airport and training area to embark on a cross-country training flight.

Requirements for Cross Country Training

For students moving toward their private pilot certificate, the FAA spells out the requirements for cross-country training specific to the category and class of aircraft involved.

The regulation covering cross-country training for private pilots is 14 CFR 61.109 and is sorted according to the class involved.

Airplane pilots (both single and multi-engine) must accomplish at least five hours of cross-country time, including a solo cross country totaling at least 150 nautical miles with three stops, along with a night cross country of over 100 nautical miles.

Helicopter pilots must complete day and night cross countries as well, though the distances are reduced to 100 and 50 nautical miles, respectively, to accommodate the generally slower speeds.

Further requirements and additional category/class requirements are spelled out in the regulation above.

But First, What is a Cross Country?

It’s important to note the requirements for accomplishing cross country training and importantly, what is appropriate to list in your logbook as “cross country” time.

Cross country for a passenger might imply New York to LA, but for a pilot the definition can vary depending on the aircraft flown and the purpose of the flight time.

Though training may take you regularly to other airports, to comply with the requirements of 61.109 listed above, an airplane must travel at least 50 nautical miles from the departure airport, while a helicopter must cover at least 25 nautical miles.

This is measured as straight-line distance, which can be a “gotcha” for pilots based in mountainous terrain or busy airspace.

For example, an airplane pilot flying from Dallas/Addison, TX (KADS) to Weatherford, TX (KWEA) might take a circuitous route around the Dallas/Fort Worth Class B airspace, covering 75 or more miles, but the straight line distance is just under the 50 nautical miles required for the purposes of the rating.

Careful planning can help pilots avoid this embarrassing and potentially expensive mistake.

Cross Country Planning

Though the cross country is a new aspect of training and adds new requirements, the basic building blocks are things students should already be familiar with.

Remember that 91.103 requires pilots to be familiar with “all available information” before beginning a flight.

For local flights, this includes checking local airport facilities, weather, and notices to airmen (NOTAMs).

Cross-country flying will consist of these, but with the addition of multiple airports as well as en route conditions. For areas with varied or rapidly changing weather, this can be a major factor considering the longer distances involved.

Navigation for the Globe-Trotting Pilot

As technology advances, pilots are constantly given newer and more capable electronic tools, both in-aircraft as well as portable.

However, the basic concepts of cross-country flying are still the same for new pilots as those of a century ago and a good understanding of the fundamentals is critical to ensuring a pilot has good situational awareness no matter the tools available in the aircraft they’re flying.

The main two baseline techniques for navigation – both required knowledge for the private pilot checkride – are pilotage and dead reckoning.

Most flights will involve a combination of both methods – utilizing dead reckoning for planning along with picking visual checkpoints along the ground.

Pilotage

Pilotage is something you’re likely familiar with from local flying, even if the term is new, and involves simply looking out the window at outside references in order to track and adjust the flight path.

As a simple example, following an interstate from one city to another would be basic pilotage.

Dead Reckoning

Dead reckoning is a more accurate method involving calculations and is typically organized on a navigation log.

Starting with a paper aeronautical chart, a pilot would measure the distance and calculate the course using a plotter; dig into the pilot’s operating handbook for the aircraft to find performance numbers; review the wind forecast to see how it will affect the aircraft in cruise; and utilize a mechanical or electronic flight computer to calculate en route times, aircraft headings to fly, and fuel burn.

It may sound like a labor-intensive process, but the procedure becomes second nature quickly.

Once you’re en route, regular checks of the aircraft position and recalculation as needed will ensure you remain safely on course and using the appropriate amount of fuel.

Advanced Avionics and Cross Country Flying

Though it is critically important pilots are familiar with navigation fundamentals, advances in technology have also greatly reduced the workload.

“Glass cockpit” technology such as Garmin’s G1000 and Dynon’s HDX can input entire flight plans along with receiving onboard weather information and calculating time and fuel burn en route.

Top-of-the-line portable technologies run on tablets or smartphones include Garmin’s fully integrated Pilot application which allows a pilot to build a flight plan before even heading to the airport, then upload it to a compatible aircraft avionics system.

Though these tools are excellent for situational awareness, it is very important new pilots don’t utilize them as a crutch and continue to practice their fundamentals.

When it’s Time to Fly

For a student pilot, every cross-country flight will require an instructor to review the pilot’s planning prior to departure to ensure correctness.

Remember the cross-country environment is a dynamic one, and utilize all the tools at your disposal to make for more accurate planning as well as position monitoring once en route.

As part of the airplane private pilot Airman Certification Standards, you must plan a cross-country flight for the oral exam and execute a diversion in flight requiring on-the-fly planning.

Once you complete your training, a cross country is one of the best options you have for sharing your flying abilities with family and friends.

Whether crossing a county or crossing the country, proper planning will ensure a safe and efficient flight for pilot and passengers alike.

Going From Cross Country to Across the Country

As a pilot pursues his or her various pilot certificates, they are required to accomplish a number of cross country flights.

As a student pilot planning a cross country flight there are a number of factors to keep in mind.

Defined in 14 CFR Part 61, almost all categories and classes of aircraft require numerous flights, both day and night, of certain distances to give pilots exposure to the enroute flying environment.

Additionally, during practical tests (checkrides) pilots are tested both on their flight planning abilities as well as their in-flight performance of simulated diversions.

Since these events happen in the course of training, they’re generally well practiced and have the added safety net of an instructor reviewing the planning and monitoring the in-flight performance.

When a pilot completes his or her ratings and begins to embark on flights on their own, new destinations can bring new challenges along the way.

Longer Flights and Larger Risks

With nearly 20,000 public use airports in the United States, the destination options for pilots are nearly endless.

While a pilot who learned in the Dallas area may feel comfortable flying to Houston, it can present a very different picture to embark on a longer trip to an unfamiliar area with only vaguely known local conditions.

For a couple of real world examples, let’s look at two hypothetical pilots planning a summer trip:

• Caroline learned in, and flies out of, Addison. A newly minted commercial pilot, she wants to visit the legendary EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
• Steven also obtained his private certificate in the Dallas area. He’d like to take his family to vacation in western Colorado.

Both of these trips present a number of unknown and potentially risky conditions.

AirVenture is the world’s busiest airshow and will take Caroline on a longer trip than she’s ever flown.

Additionally, she’ll be one of over ten thousand aircraft flying into a relatively small area with unique procedures and a high workload environment.

Conversely, Steven will be dealing with “hot and high” conditions in Colorado, where limited aircraft performance he is unfamiliar with could leave him in situations ranging from uncomfortable to dangerous.

For both of our pilots, thorough planning can help to mitigate the risks these trips present and ultimately lead to trips that are both safe and enjoyable for both pilots and passengers.

Unfamiliar Terrain, Unfamiliar Airports, and Unfamiliar Voices

For the pilots in our example above, they’re headed to new places far from the comfort of their home airport.

No matter the aircraft they’re flying and the technology at hand, thorough preflight planning starting days or weeks in advance can help to eliminate issues early and prevent headaches once the trip begins.

For a VFR-only pilot headed to higher terrain, a review of the sectional chart can show passes and peaks for navigation purposes.

Remember both that performance for general aviation aircraft will generally suffer greatly at altitude and that even if your destination airport is at a relatively low elevation, it may be surrounded by terrain at considerably higher elevation.

Many crashes have happened in mountainous areas after pilots departed an airport and found they could not out-climb the surrounding terrain.

Mountain flying is demanding and has many unique challenges, and many flight schools in these areas offer familiarization courses for both airplane and helicopter pilots.

Check NOTAMs and TFRs

Of course a check for notices to airmen (NOTAMs) and temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) is standard practice for any flight, but for a flight to an airshow, sporting event, industry conference, or similar the NOTAMs can grow in both quantity and length.

Remember on longer flights to check for updates to NOTAMs and TFRs during stops or enroute via Flight Service – departure time shifts can push a potential TFR into an active one, such as a 2015 incident where an Allegiant Airlines flight declared an emergency to land in Fargo, ND.

Air Traffic Control Procedures

Another potential situation to be prepared for is differences in air traffic control procedures in unfamiliar locations.

It’s always good practice to familiarize yourself with airport layouts and local airspaces before arrival, but don’t be afraid to state that you’re unfamiliar with an area if given an instruction you can’t perform (such as reporting a facility on the ground a local might know, like a stadium, that is unmarked on the chart).

Another tool to be aware of and utilize as needed is progressive taxi instructions – a controller would much rather you ask for progressive than potentially head the wrong direction or cause a runway incursion.

Whether the Weather is a Factor

With the US covering such vast expanses, a huge variety of weather can present to even the most prepared pilot.

Starting planning early can help to prevent unexpected surprises the day of a trip, and many resources are available to help form a complete picture.

The FAA’s prognostic charts extend out up to seven days, and even non-FAA sources can be of some use further out.

As the trip nears and forecasts become more accurate, adjusting the departure time can help to mitigate any concerns that arise.

Keep in mind local conditions, particularly as the day progresses.

A pilot based in weather-stable California may be caught off guard by pop-up thunderstorms during a spring afternoon in Arizona, while a pilot coming from sunny Phoenix could be surprised by a thick layer of fog pushing in off the ocean arriving at the California coast in the evening.

Don’t forget passenger concerns – bumping across the midwest in constant light turbulence might be just an annoyance for a pilot, but a trip could certainly be complicated by a passenger new to light airplanes getting sick in the back seat!

With any weather concern, flexibility is key.

The ability to adjust a trip by hours or days can make for a much easier and safer trip for all involved.

Where the Rubber Meets the Road – or Runway

Cross-country flying literally opens thousands of additional doors for pilots to expand their freedom, experience, and logbook. Thorough planning, utilization of available resources, and good preparation can ensure the experience is a good one for everyone involved.

A good training program will lay the foundation for a pilot, whether recreational or professional, to have both safe and enjoyable trips whether a ‘hundred dollar hamburger’ or a thousand-mile adventure.

Become a better pilot with more of our helpful flying guides. We cover everything from holding pattern entries and managing stress during flight training to renewing your pilot’s license and ways to pay for flight school.