📘14 CFR §61.93 — Solo Cross Country Flight Requirements

✏️ Plain-English Summary:

Before a student pilot can fly a solo cross-country, they need to receive training, a detailed flight plan review, and specific endorsements. Each solo XC requires two endorsements: one in the logbook for the route, and one on the student pilot certificate authorizing solo cross-country privileges.

This reg also includes additional restrictions for repeated solo XCs, flights between airports less than 25 NM apart, and Class B operations.

✅ Key Takeaways for PPL Students:

• ✅ You must receive training in cross-country navigation and procedures, including:

  • Use of charts

  • Dead reckoning & pilotage

  • Airspace entry/exit

  • Weather and NOTAM interpretation

  • Fuel planning, weight/balance, performance

• ✅ Before every solo XC, a CFI must:

  • Review your flight plan

  • Determine the flight can be made safely

  • Endorse your logbook with the specific route

  • Ensure you're endorsed for solo cross-country privileges on your student pilot certificate

• ✅ Endorsements are only good for the planned route and date

• ✅ Flights between two airports less than 25 NM apart still require specific make/model training and endorsement

• ❌ You cannot deviate from your planned and endorsed route without prior instructor approval

✈️ Scenario:

You’re planning a solo cross-country from KLAN to KMKG. You get your logbook endorsed for that route. The weather near KMKG looks bad, so you decide in-flight to divert to KGRR (which you weren't endorsed for). ❌ Not legal — you may only fly the route reviewed and endorsed unless instructed otherwise by ATC and approved by your CFI beforehand.

🎓 CFI Teaching Tip (🧑‍🏫 CFI-only):

This reg contains multiple endorsement requirements for every cross-country.

✅ Be sure to:

• Provide dual instruction and review the actual route

• Endorse the student pilot certificate (once every 90 days for XC privileges)

• Endorse the logbook for each individual route

Also, emphasize weather decision-making, diversion procedures, and the use of technology (ForeFlight, VFR charts) during the route review.

✍️ Pro tip: Have your students brief the flight to you like a mini-checkride during the review session — it builds great habits for their PPL and beyond.

📚 References:

• FAR: 14 CFR §61.93

• AC 61-65H: Sample endorsements for student solo XCs

• AIM 4-3-23: Student solo flight best practices

📺 Extra Help:

• 🎥 Pilot Institute: Student Pilot Solo XC Endorsements Explained

• 📰 Boldmethod: What Every Student Pilot Should Know About Solo Cross-Countries