Instrument X-C

The so-called “long” cross-country in instrument training requires three different approaches. Defining “different” and what approaches qualify has been a process.

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Sunday, November 26, 2023 at 08:00 AM ET

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Key Takeaways:

The FAA's interpretation of the "three approaches" required for the IFR long cross-country flight has evolved significantly, initially focusing on the use of different navigation systems and excluding radar approaches.
Major changes in 2022 (Carty Memo and Order 8900.1) rescinded previous guidance, allowed ASR and PAR approaches, and redefined "different kinds of approaches" as those with "various lines of minimums" on an approach plate, regardless of the navigation system used.
This new guidance offers greater flexibility, permitting combinations like GPS approaches flown to different minimums (e.g., LPV DA, straight-in MDA, and circling MDA) to satisfy the requirement, addressing the scarcity of older navigation aids.
Practically, the author suggests instructors continue to prioritize training on precision, non-precision (straight-in), and circling approaches, distinguished by their vertical profiles, to best prepare students for checkrides and real-world IFR flying.

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Any pilot who got an instrument rating in the last 25 years knows that part of the training requires a 250 NM (for airplanes) cross-country flight under IFR. It is called the “long cross-country” flight, although there’s no “short cross-country” flight. That flight requires three approaches, but which three has been confusing.

Confusion History

When Part 61 was rewritten in 1997, the IFR cross-country flight included “three different kinds of approaches with the use of navigation systems.” There’s similar language for helicopters. Instrument instructors were unsure how to interpret the language.