Experience by the Numbers Makes a Difference

When it comes to logging cross-country distance, measure twice, fly once.

Meg Godlewski

Tuesday, July 01, 2025 at 09:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Modern avionics make cross-country flight easier. [Credit: FLYING Archive]

Key Takeaways:

Pilots must accurately verify cross-country flight distances against FAR Part 61.1 requirements, which vary by certificate (e.g., private/commercial requires over 50 nm), as miscalculations can lead to check ride failures.
Logged cross-country flight hours do not expire and remain valid regardless of age, though returning pilots should still expect to fly with a CFI to regain proficiency.
Instrument training should include learning diverse and potentially rarer approaches like NDB/ADF and Localizer Back Course, as these skills can be valuable for certain situations or job opportunities despite their decreasing prevalence.

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“I don’t think that qualifies as a cross-country.”

This phrase was uttered by a DPE who, reviewing the logbook of a private pilot applicant, noted that one of the flights logged as a cross-country came up a little short. The flight had been made from what was then known as Crest Airpark (S36) to Arlington Municipal Airport (KAWO) in Washington state. The DPE was local and familiar with the flight, as pretty much every locally trained pilot candidate made the flight to Arlington at least two or three times as they pursued their certificates.