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Of the 100 hours of PIC time, how many must be cross-country flight?

50 hours, of which at least 10 must be in airplanes.

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  1. 25 hours
  2. 100 hours
  3. 50 hours ✔

Why: The PIC requirement includes 50 hours of cross-country time. At least 10 of those hours must be in airplanes, so some can be in other aircraft.

Huh, didn't know that: For commercial purposes, cross-country means landing at a point more than 50 nautical miles from the departure point, using navigation.

The dad joke
Why do cross-country hours feel so long? Everyone wants a landing at the next fuel stop.
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References

Answer: 50 hours. The PIC requirement includes 50 hours of cross-country time. At least 10 of those hours must be in airplanes, so some can be in other aircraft.

  1. 14 CFR 61.129 Aeronautical experience (Cornell LII eCFR mirror) www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/61.129
    50 hours in cross-country flight of which at least 10 hours must be in airplanes
    Checked 2026-10-10.
  2. 14 CFR 61.1 Applicability and definitions (Cornell LII eCFR mirror) www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/61.1
    a straight-line distance of more than 50 nautical miles from the original point of departure
    Checked 2026-10-10.

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FlyingA new commercial airplane pilot has no instrument rating. Passengers for hire cannot go cross-country beyond how far?FlyingHow many hours of pilot in command time must a commercial airplane applicant log?FlyingA commercial applicant must fly a 2-hour daytime cross-country with a straight-line distance greater than what?

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