Commercial X-C question

[austers]

Is there anything that prohibits combining the 2 hour day and 2 hour night cross-countries required for the commercial? I figured I could go somewhere 2+ hours away, wait until dark, then fly back, and get both of them out of the way. Another instructor said they have to be seperate and both have to start from the original point of departure where the school is based.

The reg says One cross-country flight of at least 2 hours in a single engine airplane in day VFR conditions, consisting of a total straight-line distance of more than 100NM from the original point of departure; and same for the night

Isn't it still a straight line distance of more than 100NM even if you're going the other way? Who's right?

 

[DitchDriver]

I figured I could go somewhere 2+ hours away, wait until dark, then fly back, and get both of them out of the way.

That's exactly how I did it.

instructor said they have to be seperate and both have to start from the original point of departure where the school is based.

Hogwash.

If you did them before even getting on with that school and logged as instruction received, then they still count.

 

[austers]

Re: Re: Commercial X-C question

If you did them before even getting on with that school and logged as instruction received, then they still count.

Yeah, I didn't mean this school specifically, just the orignal point of departure.

 

[Flymach2]

Hi...

You are correct in your interpretation of § 61.129(a)(3)(iii) & (iv). You may depart on a cross-country flight of at least 2 hours in a single-engine airplane in day VFR conditions, consisting of a total straight-line distance of more than 100 nautical miles from the original point of departure and return from that point at night in VFR conditions to satisfy the night x/c requirement. The instructor who told you otherwise is incorrect.

Regards