How To Plan a Cross-Country Flight

A cross-country flight, also denoted as an XC flight, is defined as a flight landing at a point other than the departure point, using navigational methods and aids to navigate the landing. A certain number of cross-country flight hours are required by the FAA to earn various pilot certificates. There are also specific distance requirements to consider when cross-country flight planning,  based on the pilot’s desired flight certificate. For example, a landing distance greater than 50 nm is required to earn an ATP certificate, whereas a sport pilot certificate only requires a pilot to exceed 25 nm from the departure point to qualify as a cross-country flight. 

Cross-country flight logging is important because the logged hours must add up to the required number of hours necessary to obtain your next pilot certificate. 

There are critical steps which must be taken when XC flight planning, from a requirements checklist to filing your flight plans. Follow the list below to ensure a safe and successful XC flight. 

You will want to make sure that you understand the requirements for a cross-country flight so that you can meet them and have the flight time and distance credited as cross-country flying for your next certificate or rating. 

A cross-country flight must include:

Different XC flight requirements exist for each type of certificate. For example, a private pilot certificate requires: 

The best way to obtain a weather briefing is by contacting an FAA Flight Service Station (FSS). They are trained to help pilots understand and obtain weather information for preparing flight plans. 

Choosing an altitude for a cross-country flight plan should be based on the performance of your aircraft, obstacles to avoid, weather patterns, and the direction you’re traveling. The higher the altitude the better the fuel efficiency, however, the climb and weather elements can play critical roles when choosing your altitude. You should refer to your pilot information manual to determine the most efficient cruise profile for your specific aircraft and route. 

Basic calculations are required to accurately determine airspeed, time, and distance. 

If you wish to convert knots into miles per hour, you would multiply the number of knots or nautical miles per hour (nmph) by 1.15, which gives you mph . 

You will want to study the runway maps of your departing airport, destination airport, and any potential emergency landing destinations along your route. You will also need to be familiar with the airports’ frequencies, communications, and flight regulations for your aircraft in the chosen airspace.

Make sure you know where all of your instruments and equipment are located, how they operate, and ensure that everything is in working order. Also, check that you have all the safety equipment, backups, and personal items necessary for your cross-country flight. 

It typically takes a few hours to get through the first six steps of your cross-country flight planning, so you will want to obtain an updated weather briefing (step 2) prior to your departure. 

The final step in your cross-country flight planning is to file a flight plan with the FAA. The flight plan form can be found on the FAA website You may call 1-800-WXBRIEF or use the website 1800WXBrief to file your flight plan. 

There are also software options available which can be used to file your flight plan: https://www.fltplan.com/ or https://foreflight.com/ 

You have now navigated the seemingly daunting task of creating a cross-country flight plan. You are now fully prepared to take flight and enjoy your scenic journey filled with bold confidence, thanks to the detailed knowledge and meticulous checklists you now possess. 

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