Sorry to dredge up this old thread, but it pertains closely to my question.
For the purpose of an initial rating or qualification in FAA land, a xcountry flights first leg must be over 50nm. My understanding is that after you've got your license, then any landing away from your departing airport is considered a xcountry.
Now my question.
For an instrument rating qualification you need 50hrs of xcountry as PIC in FAA-land. Does that have to be the 50nm flavour, or just regular vanilla ones? Reason I'm asking is that I meet those qualifications if I can log my european xcountries, but not if they have to be of the 50nm variety. I have had cursory glance at FAR/AIM's, but could not find an answer.