Commercial Solo XC

Dazzler

Dazzler

Well-Known Member
Can the Commercial long solo cross-country (the 300NM+ one) be done IFR?

The FARs specifically say that the dual XCs must be done VFR, but doesn't mention a VFR/IFR/VMC/IMC restriction on the solo XC.

Thanks!
 
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Can the Commercial long solo cross-country (the 300NM+ one) be done IFR?

The FARs specifically say that the dual XCs must be done VFR, but doesn't mention a VFR/IFR/VMC/IMC restriction on the solo XC.



Thanks!

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VFR, I'll look up the reference later, but I know it is VFR.
 
YOU , YOU CAN FILE IFR, BUT I ALSO HEARD SOMEWHERE THAT THE TWO SHORT ONES HAD TO BE VMC, BUT THE LONG CAN BE EITHER. I COULD BE WRONG THOUGH.
 
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YOU , YOU CAN FILE IFR, BUT I ALSO HEARD SOMEWHERE THAT THE TWO SHORT ONES HAD TO BE VMC, BUT THE LONG CAN BE EITHER. I COULD BE WRONG THOUGH.

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What?
Speak up!
smile.gif
 
You do NOT have to be in VMC on your long solo x/c.

Here's the summarization of the solo requirements for the commercial from the FARs:

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Sec. 61.129 (4)

10 hours of solo flight in a single-engine airplane on the areas of
operation listed in Sec. 61.127(b)(1) of this part, which includes at least--
(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. However, if this requirement is being met in Hawaii, the
longest segment need only have a straight-line distance of at least 150
nautical miles; and
(ii) 5 hours in night VFR conditions with 10 takeoffs and 10 landings (with
each landing involving a flight in the traffic pattern) at an airport with an
operating control tower.

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No mention of conditions the flight must be flown in. The dual x/cs (day & night) do have to be flown in VMC, though not necessarily under VFR (you can file if you so choose)

hope that helps.

Sarah
 
I concur.... the rules don't specify so you can use either IFR or VFR

I did most of my long XC for my commercial under IFR... I think one leg of it I did without an IFR flight plan filed.

I think it's that way, because its hard to find a day where you can complete the whole thing under VFR (unless a huge high pressure area is parked over you part of the country, or you live in the desert or something)
 
The long xc can be IFR. In fact mine was and I got about 5 hours of actual on it. I flew from St. Louis down to St. Petersburg, FL.
 
I checked the regs time and time again on this before I ever launched on my x/c to be sure, but it still scared me when I read this thread and someone posted "nope, VMC" so I went and dug up the specific reference.

Mine was conducted completely under IFR (flight plan), and 2.0 of the 6.2 total for the trip was in IMC.

Sarah
 
I did mine VFR (DAB-CAE and back) back in '96, but that was Riddle's fault. They had us do that XC before we had our instrument ratings, so I had no choice in the matter.

However, when I was instructing Part 61 I always advised my students to file IFR when they did their long XCs. It is absolutely permissible to do so.
 
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Mine was conducted completely under IFR (flight plan...

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Same here. I checked and double checked the regs before I took mine in October of last year (TPF to CSG to CHA). There is no requirement that the long solo be made VFR.

Only the two dual x/c's of 100 NM day and night.
 
I did mine IFR. It was VMC most of the way, but the last hour of the flight was IMC with approaches close to minimums.
 
I did mine VFR on perhaps the greatest day possible. High pressure, very lights winds, unrestricted visability, and clear skies across three skies. I did mine before instrument training (still havent started that yet as a matter of fact.)
 
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