EASA cross-country definition and the 300 NM CPL flight
Checked against the sources below on 29 October 2026. How these guides are written
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EASA FCL.010 defines cross-country as "a flight between a point of departure and a point of arrival following a pre-planned route, using standard navigation procedures". It sets no minimum distance. Distances appear in the licence requirements: the PPL(A) needs a solo cross-country of at least 270 km (150 NM) with full-stop landings at two other aerodromes, and the CPL(A) a VFR cross-country of at least 540 km (300 NM) as PIC with the same two full-stop landings. The ATPL(A) needs 200 hours of cross-country.
- Definition
- Departure point to arrival point on a pre-planned route using standard navigation procedures; no distance
- Each flight
- FCL.010
- LAPL(A)
- 3 h solo cross-country incl. one flight of at least 150 km (80 NM) with 1 full-stop landing at another aerodrome
- Within the 6 h supervised solo
- FCL.110.A(a)(2)
- PPL(A)
- 5 h solo cross-country incl. one flight of at least 270 km (150 NM) with full-stop landings at 2 other aerodromes
- Within the 10 h supervised solo
- FCL.210.A(a)(2)
- PPL(H)
- 5 h solo cross-country incl. one flight of at least 185 km (100 NM) with full-stop landings at 2 other aerodromes
- Within the 10 h supervised solo
- FCL.210.H(a)(2)
- CPL(A)
- 20 h (CPL integrated, CPL modular) or 50 h (CPL/IR and ATP integrated) cross-country as PIC, incl. a VFR flight of at least 540 km (300 NM) with full-stop landings at 2 other aerodromes
- Course or experience requirement
- Part-FCL Appendix 3, Sections A, C, D and E
- IR
- 50 h cross-country as PIC, at least 10 h in the relevant aircraft category
- Before the IR
- FCL.610(b)
- ATPL(A)
- 200 h cross-country, of which at least 100 h as PIC or PICUS
- Before the ATPL(A) skill test
- FCL.510.A(b)(3)
How does EASA define cross-country?
FCL.010: "'Cross-country' means a flight between a point of departure and a point of arrival following a pre-planned route, using standard navigation procedures." Three conditions follow from the words: a departure point and an arrival point, a route you planned before the flight, and standard navigation procedures to fly it.
The definition sets no minimum distance and no landing away. A short planned navigation leg can meet it, and a long flight with no planned route can fail it. Part-FCL does not say whether a planned route that returns to the departure aerodrome qualifies, so ask your ATO or competent authority before you count those flights toward a licence requirement.
The model logbook in AMC1 FCL.050 has no cross-country column. The evidence is your departure and arrival places in columns 2 and 3 and whatever you write in Remarks, so record the route and the landing points for any flight you will use toward a cross-country requirement.
Cross-country for the LAPL and PPL
FCL.210.A(a)(2) requires 10 hours of supervised solo for the PPL(A), "including at least 5 hours of solo cross-country flight time with at least one cross-country flight of at least 270 km (150 NM), during which full-stop landings at two aerodromes different from the aerodrome of departure shall be made." The LAPL(A) version in FCL.110.A(a)(2) is 3 hours of solo cross-country with one flight of at least 150 km (80 NM) and "1 full stop landing at an aerodrome different from the aerodrome of departure".
The PPL(H) in FCL.210.H(a)(2) needs 5 hours of solo cross-country with one flight of at least 185 km (100 NM) and full-stop landings at 2 aerodromes other than the departure aerodrome. Under FCL.045(d) a student pilot carries evidence of the FCL.020(a)(1) solo authorisation on every solo cross-country flight.
The aeroplane night rating adds a smaller one: FCL.810(a)(1)(ii) includes at least 1 hour of cross-country navigation at night "with at least one dual cross-country flight of at least 50 km (27 NM)".
The CPL 300 NM (540 km) cross-country
Every aeroplane CPL route in Appendix 3 includes "a VFR cross-country flight of at least 540 km (300 NM), in the course of which full stop landings at two aerodromes different from the aerodrome of departure shall be made." The flight has to be VFR, flown as PIC, with two full-stop landings away from the departure aerodrome. Touch-and-go landings do not meet the full-stop wording.
The surrounding hours differ by route. The ATP integrated and CPL/IR integrated courses require 50 hours of cross-country as PIC. The CPL integrated course requires 20 hours. The modular CPL(A) requires 150 hours of flight time, including 50 hours as PIC in aeroplanes of which 10 hours are cross-country, before flight training starts, and 200 hours of flight time for the licence, including "100 hours as PIC, of which 20 hours of cross-country flight as PIC" with the 540 km flight inside them.
Helicopter CPLs use a shorter flight. The modular CPL(H) experience requirement is 10 hours of cross-country as PIC, "including a VFR cross-country flight of at least 185 km (100 NM)" with full-stop landings at two other aerodromes.
Cross-country hours for the IR and ATPL
FCL.610(b) requires an IR applicant to have "completed at least 50 hours of cross-country flight time as PIC in aeroplanes, TMGs, helicopters or airships, of which at least 10 or, in the case of airships, 20 hours shall be in the relevant aircraft category." Helicopter graduates of the ATP(H)/IR, ATP(H), CPL(H)/IR or CPL(H) integrated courses are exempt under FCL.610(c).
The ATPL(A) needs "200 hours of cross-country flight time of which at least 100 hours shall be as PIC or as PIC under supervision" (FCL.510.A(b)(3)). The ATPL(H) has the same 200 and 100 hours in FCL.510.H(c)(3). Line flying between aerodromes on a planned route, flown with standard navigation procedures, meets the three conditions in the FCL.010 definition.
Mistakes pilots make
- Applying a 50 NM rule from another authority. Part-FCL sets no minimum distance for cross-country time.
- Using touch-and-go landings on the qualifying flight. The PPL(A) 270 km and CPL(A) 540 km flights need full-stop landings at two aerodromes other than the departure aerodrome.
- Flying the 540 km CPL flight under IFR or dual. Appendix 3 calls for a VFR cross-country as PIC.
- Logging cross-country with no record of the route. The EASA logbook has no cross-country column, so keep the route and landing points in Remarks.
- Counting all cross-country toward the ATPL(A) 100 hours. Only time as PIC or PICUS counts toward that part of FCL.510.A(b)(3).
What Off Chocks tracks
- When you leave the Cross-country box blank, Off Chocks counts the flight's time when the departure and arrival airports are more than 50 nm apart in a straight line. EASA sets no distance, so type the time on shorter planned navigation legs; a typed figure wins, including 0.
- EASA goals track 5 hours of solo cross-country for the PPL, 20 hours of cross-country PIC for the CPL, 50 hours of cross-country PIC for the IR, and 200 hours of cross-country with 100 hours as PIC or PICUS for the ATPL.
- It does not check the qualifying 270 km or 540 km flight and its two full-stop landings. Note that flight in Remarks.
Common questions
- What is the minimum distance for an EASA cross-country?
- There is none. FCL.010 defines cross-country by a pre-planned route between a departure and an arrival point using standard navigation procedures. Distances appear only in specific licence requirements.
- How long is the EASA PPL solo cross-country?
- At least 270 km (150 NM) for the PPL(A), with full-stop landings at two aerodromes other than the departure aerodrome, inside 5 hours of solo cross-country (FCL.210.A(a)(2)).
- What is the EASA CPL 300 NM cross-country?
- A VFR cross-country flight of at least 540 km (300 NM) as PIC with full-stop landings at two aerodromes other than the departure aerodrome, required on every aeroplane CPL route in Appendix 3 to Part-FCL.
- How many cross-country hours do I need for an EASA IR?
- 50 hours as PIC in aeroplanes, TMGs, helicopters or airships, with at least 10 hours in the relevant category (FCL.610(b)).
- How much cross-country does the EASA ATPL(A) need?
- 200 hours, of which at least 100 hours as PIC or PIC under supervision (FCL.510.A(b)(3)).
Sources
- EASA Easy Access Rules for Aircrew, October 2026 revision: FCL.010 Definitions (cross-country)
- EASA Easy Access Rules for Aircrew: FCL.210.A and FCL.210.H PPL experience
- EASA Easy Access Rules for Aircrew: FCL.110.A LAPL(A) experience
- EASA Easy Access Rules for Aircrew: Appendix 3, training courses for the CPL and ATPL
- EASA Easy Access Rules for Aircrew: FCL.610 IR prerequisites
- EASA Easy Access Rules for Aircrew: FCL.510.A ATPL(A) experience
This is a plain-words summary to help you keep your own records, not legal advice. The regulation and your operator's procedures always take precedence.