FAR Part 61.129 [1] specifies the aeronautical experience requirements for a FAA CPL. For the ASEL rating, one of these is a long cross-country flight:
"(4)(i) One cross-country flight of not less than 300 nautical miles total distance, with landings at a minimum of three points, one of which is a straight-line distance of at least 250 nautical miles from the original departure point. [...]"
Two ways to do this come to mind:
1) A return flight (A-B-C-A).
2) A one-way flight (A-B-C-D).
Question 1: In case 1) the landing back home in A would count, so this is a valid flight for the criterion above?
Question 2: What constitutes a "flight" in the legal sense of the above? There seems to be no formal definition in the FARs. For instance, do the segments (legs) of the flight have to be on the same day, or can I fly A-B-C on day 1, and C-A on day two, or after a, say, 6 hour stopover?
Thanks for clarifying these pesky details!
[1]
FAR Part 61 Sec. 61.129 effective as of 10/20/2009