CPL cross country

[matt_bell11]

Hello all

I'm off to California next week to build my hours up. I've not started my CPL training yet but I understand I can complete the cross country qualifier at any point, is this correct? I know the route has to be 300nm with landings at 2 airfields, but do I have to depart and arrive at the same field?
I'm going to be based in Long Beach and I plan on flying to Vegas which is around 300nm away. If I land at another airfield en route would that be enough to tick the QXC box? I'm planning on staying in Vegas over night so the return leg would be the following day.
I hope that all makes sense.

Ps I'm assuming it's OK for me to do it in the US...?

[Straighten Up]

My understanding on the QXC is that you don't need to land back at your departure aerodrome in the same flight, you just need to cover the 540nm - just make sure the straight line distances (regardless of airspace/actual routing) add up to the necessary amount. I did Laughlin - Sedona - Grand Canyon - Henderson as mine. Highly recommend that area, although be careful on the density altitude if it's still hot.

[EchoSierra]

Hi Matt,

As long as it's 300 NM or more and you stop at a minimum of two different airfields to the one you departed from you're fine.


EDIT: With regards to you US comment, yes you can do it anywhere in the world.

[BillieBob]

just make sure the straight line distances (regardless of airspace/actual routing) add up to the necessary amount.

Not necessary. The airfields can be right next to each other provided that the total distance flown (e.g. via intermediate waypoints) is at least 300nm.

[matt_bell11]

Thank you all for your replies.

If I do a straight route and not a circle do I need to add another airfield in?
If I take off at A, land at B and C then return to A that equals 3 landings. If I do a straight line A B C that is only 2. I know how pedantic the CAA can be so I want to make sure it's right!

Thanks again.

[BillieBob]

Nowhere in the Regulation does it mention a requirement for three landings. You must land at two airfields different from the point of departure - what you do after landing at the second is totally irrelevant provided that the total distance flown is at least 300nm.

[matt_bell11]

Perfect

Thank you for your help

[Straighten Up]

Originally Posted by BillieBob

just make sure the straight line distances (regardless of airspace/actual routing) add up to the necessary amount.

Not necessary. The airfields can be right next to each other provided that the total distance flown (e.g. via intermediate waypoints) is at least 300nm.

I'm not suggesting this is a requirement - merely a suggestion. Yes you could do a flight from one airfield to a nearby one taking a circuitous route but should the CAA decide to look into it they MAY not be happy to accept this without further evidence. If you keep your plog you could argue the case with them but is it really worth it?

Besides surely part of the point of the qxc is to get you slightly out of your comfort zone??

[MichaelOLearyGenius]

You could in effect fly no more than 75 miles from your base airport. Take off, fly to an airfield 75 miles south for example. Then fly 150 miles north to your 2nd landing point, then 75 miles south back to your base.

[pinguair]

Just an additional question, can I do the 300nm VFR night?
Or is there any requirement that it must be vfr day?

And is it nessesary to fly this on one day, or is it possible to fly this with two overnights at the destinations?

Maybe someone can post a link to the Part-Fcl.

[BillieBob]

Appendix 3E to Part-FCL

EXPERIENCE
12. The applicant for a CPL(A) shall have completed at least 200 hours of flight time, including at least:

(a)100 hours as PIC, of which 20 hours of cross-country flight as PIC, which shall include a VFR cross-country flight of at least 540 km (300NM), in the course of which full stoop landings at two aerodromes different from the aerodrome of departure shall be made;

No mention of day or night or of doing it in one day. However, the UK CAA is of the opinion that it must be done in one day as they consider that an overnight stop means that it is no longer a single flight, as required by the Regulation. In fact, if you take the Regulation literally, a full stop landing at each aerodrome could, arguably, mean that it is three (or two) flights in any case.

[custardpsc]

You might want to fly to a point 250nm distanr for one airport, then it will be usable for faa cpl xc as well....needs to be solo, no pax

If you are flying from long beach, then Buckeye just east of Phoenix will do that for you, with a landing anywhere on the way, or way back., eg palm springs. This is a nice trip, you get to fly the banning pass and relatively straightforward.