Airline Pilot Central Forums - Commercial Long XC Question

Airline Pilot Central Forums (https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/)

- Flight Schools and Training (https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/flight-schools-training/)

- - Commercial Long XC Question (https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/flight-schools-training/94716-commercial-long-xc-question.html)

Commercial Long XC Question

Hello. I have a few questions about the long cross country requirements for the commercial rating. Gotta love lawyer speak!

Quote:

Originally Posted by FAR 61.129(4)

Ten hours of solo flight time in a single engine airplane or 10 hours of flight time performing the duties of pilot in command in a single engine airplane with an authorized instructor on board (either of which may be credited towards the flight time requirement under paragraph (a)(2) of this section), on the areas of operation listed under §61.127(b)(1) that include—

Quote:

Originally Posted by FAR 61.129(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.

So here are the questions.

1. I don't believe so, but just to verify, this does NOT have to be accomplished with a flight instructor on board, correct?
2. Do the landings at three airports include the departure and arrival airports, so I would only have to do one intermittent landing?
3. Straight line distance of 250 nautical miles.... does it have to be flown in a straight line? I was thinking about doing KATW-KPCW to go ride some coasters down in Cedar Point. The only thing, though, is the little thing in between called Lake Michigan. I was thinking about doing KATW-CGT-KPCW there and then KPCW-KGYY-KATW on the way back, with a landing at KGYY. Would this meet the requirements?
4. It doesn't say anything about it, but just to verify- this cross country does NOT have to be accomplished in VFR, correct?

On an unrelated note.... I know the FAA is weird when it comes to duplicating times for ratings. Does my simulated IFR time for my IR count towards the commercial?

1. No, solo is ok. Twenty years ago when the FAA rewrote 61 they added the ten hours solo time requirement. A bunch of multi-engine schools said their insurance wouldn't allow solo flights. So the FAA added the ride along instructor. Then to be consistent they allowed in single engine airplanes too.

2. Your starting and ending airport is one point so you need two more airports. It's a triangle. A to B to C to A.

3. Your route is fine. The reg says it has to be more than 250 miles from one of the points to the next one in a straight line. It's more than 250 mile from ATW to PCW.

4. Reg doesn't say anything about VFR or IFR.

5. It depends on how it was signed off. Here's the FAA's opinion.
http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/...rpretation.pdf

I'm sure that was a lot of help. If your instrument instructor signed off 10 hours of "attitude instrument flying, partial panel skills, recovery from unusual flight attitudes, and intercepting and tracking navigational systems" you're good to go. If not you're going to have to do some more training.