I have a question about cross country time. (SEL) According to the FARs, for a flight to be considered cross country, it has to include a landing at a point other than the original point of departure, and a landing at a point at least 50nm straight-line distance from the original point of departure.
That is perfectly clear. However, it raises some questions. I was taught (and perhaps it was my misinterpretation) that if I flew a straight line course from airport A to airport B (25nm) and then from airport B to airport C (also 25nm) that neither flight counted as cross country, because neither leg (on its own) was 50nm straight-line distance. However, as the FARs read, that entire flight would count as cross country because airport C is 50nm straight-line distance from my original point of departure. (Airport A)
For example, my home base is KSCK. I trained at KTCY. After soloing and being properly endorsed, I flew from KSCK to KTCY to meet my instructor there. My solo cross country was from KTCY to KAPC to KMHR and back to KTCY. But my original point of departure was from KSCK, so should not the 15 minutes of flight time from KSCK to KTCY count as cross country time? (I only landed, taxied back and then took off as the "official" cross country flight.)
It's not that I need the extra hours, as I have plenty of cross country time. I just want to understand the rules more clearly, and this one is unclear, at least as it is written in the FARs.
That is perfectly clear. However, it raises some questions. I was taught (and perhaps it was my misinterpretation) that if I flew a straight line course from airport A to airport B (25nm) and then from airport B to airport C (also 25nm) that neither flight counted as cross country, because neither leg (on its own) was 50nm straight-line distance. However, as the FARs read, that entire flight would count as cross country because airport C is 50nm straight-line distance from my original point of departure. (Airport A)
For example, my home base is KSCK. I trained at KTCY. After soloing and being properly endorsed, I flew from KSCK to KTCY to meet my instructor there. My solo cross country was from KTCY to KAPC to KMHR and back to KTCY. But my original point of departure was from KSCK, so should not the 15 minutes of flight time from KSCK to KTCY count as cross country time? (I only landed, taxied back and then took off as the "official" cross country flight.)
It's not that I need the extra hours, as I have plenty of cross country time. I just want to understand the rules more clearly, and this one is unclear, at least as it is written in the FARs.
