We got burned and had to redo the 150 mile cross country. We had 3 landings at 3 airports, but the straight line between airports was only 148 miles. We figured no problem and added a vor co-located at a 4th airport to navigate to enroute (but did not land at the 4th airport). DPE refused to accept it.
Yes, airport to airport as I understand it is the definition of cross country.
Wait- if your total for each leg was less than 150nm then it makes sense given the following (from
http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-id...&node=14:2.0.1.1.2&idno=14#14:2.0.1.1.2.3.1.4 ):
§61.109 Aeronautical experience.
(a)
For an airplane single-engine rating. Except as provided in paragraph (k) of this section, a person who applies for a private pilot certificate with an airplane category and single-engine class rating must log at least 40 hours of flight time that includes at least 20 hours of flight training from an authorized instructor and 10 hours of solo flight training in the areas of operation listed in §61.107(b)(1) of this part, and the training must include at least—
(1) 3 hours of cross-country flight training in a single-engine airplane;
(2) Except as provided in §61.110 of this part, 3 hours of night flight training in a single-engine airplane that includes—
(i) One cross-country flight of over 100 nautical miles total distance; and
(ii) 10 takeoffs and 10 landings to a full stop (with each landing involving a flight in the traffic pattern) at an airport.
(3) 3 hours of flight training in a single-engine airplane on the control and maneuvering of an airplane solely by reference to instruments, including straight and level flight, constant airspeed climbs and descents, turns to a heading, recovery from unusual flight attitudes, radio communications, and the use of navigation systems/facilities and radar services appropriate to instrument flight;
(4) 3 hours of flight training with an authorized instructor in a single-engine airplane in preparation for the practical test, which must have been performed within the preceding 2 calendar months from the month of the test; and
(5) 10 hours of solo flight time in a single-engine airplane, consisting of at least—
(i) 5 hours of solo cross-country time;
(ii) One solo cross country flight of 150 nautical miles total distance, with full-stop landings at three points, and one segment of the flight consisting of a straight-line distance of more than 50 nautical miles between the takeoff and landing locations; and
(iii) Three takeoffs and three landings to a full stop (with each landing involving a flight in the traffic pattern) at an airport with an operating control tower.
(emphasis added)
if the various legs added up to 149nm- Your CFI who signed off on your XC plan choked....
I am in the process of planning my long XC for this weekend and will do FRG--> ALB-->SWF--->FRG for a total of 254nm. If the straight line distance between airports had to be 150- I would have a terrible time avoiding Class B airspace/airports or long periods over water to get to a towered field...