A cross-country flight pulls everything together: navigation, weather, performance, fuel, and airspace, all in one plan. Learning to plan one thoroughly is a milestone of training and a core checkride skill. Here is the full process.
Part of our Navigation and Flight Planning guide. For logging purposes, a cross-country generally involves a landing more than 50 nautical miles from your departure point.
Step 1: Choose the route
Pick a route with good visual checkpoints, sensible terrain and airspace, and suitable airports. Note alternates in case weather or a problem forces a change. Draw the legs on your sectional chart and identify checkpoints.
Step 2: Get a weather briefing and decide
Get a standard weather briefing from an official source: current conditions, forecasts, winds aloft, hazards, and notices. Compare it to your personal minimums and make an honest go or no-go decision. Review the weather hazards guide.
Step 3: Run the numbers
- Navigation log: headings, distances, ground speeds, times, and fuel per leg (see flight planning).
- Performance: takeoff and landing distances and climb for the conditions and density altitude.
- Weight and balance: confirm the airplane is within limits for the whole flight.
- Fuel: total fuel plus required reserves (at least 30 minutes day, 45 minutes night for airplanes under VFR).
Step 4: Check airspace and notices
Identify the airspace along your route and any entry requirements, and review NOTAMs and TFRs that could affect your flight, such as closed runways or temporary flight restrictions.
Step 5: File and fly
Filing a VFR flight plan and using flight following are smart safety habits. On the day, recheck the weather, complete a thorough preflight, and open your plan. In the air, fly your legs, verify each checkpoint against your log, and adjust as conditions require.
The mindset
Good cross-country flying is mostly good preparation. A solid plan, conservative fuel and weather decisions, and the discipline to divert or turn back when needed are what make these flights safe and genuinely fun.
What you'll need
Cross-country planning tools from PilotMall.com.
Frequently asked questions
What counts as a cross-country flight?
For most logging purposes, a flight with a landing more than 50 nautical miles from the departure point.
How much fuel reserve do I need?
Under VFR in airplanes, at least 30 minutes by day and 45 minutes at night, beyond the fuel to reach your destination.
Do I have to file a flight plan?
A VFR flight plan is not required but is strongly recommended, along with flight following, for safety.