Regulation Text
§ 61.111 Cross-country flights: Pilots based on small islands.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, an applicant located on an island from which the cross-country flight training required in § 61.109 of this part cannot be accomplished without flying over water for more than 10 nautical miles from the nearest shoreline need not comply with the requirements of that section.
(b) If other airports that permit civil operations are available to which a flight may be made without flying over water for more than 10 nautical miles from the nearest shoreline, the applicant must show completion of two round-trip solo flights between those two airports that are farthest apart, including a landing at each airport on both flights.
(c) An applicant who complies with paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) of this section, and meets all requirements for the issuance of a private pilot certificate, except the cross-country training requirements of § 61.109 of this part, will be issued a pilot certificate with an endorsement containing the following limitation, “Passenger carrying prohibited on flights more than 10 nautical miles from (the appropriate island).” The limitation may be subsequently amended to include another island if the applicant complies with the requirements of paragraph (b) of this section for another island.
(d) Upon meeting the cross-country training requirements of § 61.109 of this part, the applicant may have the limitation in paragraph (c) of this section removed.
[Docket 25910, 62 FR 16298, Apr. 4, 1997; Amdt. 61-103, 62 FR 40904, July 30, 1997]
Research Notes
Research Notes — § 61.111 Cross-Country Flights: Pilots Based on Small Islands (Private Pilot)
Regulatory Context
Section 61.111 accommodates private pilot applicants based on small islands who cannot meet the specific distance or routing requirements of the § 61.109(a)(3) solo cross-country requirements because geography makes those distances impossible. When the nearest land is less than 25 nm from the departure point, the FAA authorizes training flights of at least 25 nm with full-stop landings at airports separated from the departure point by open water.
Regulatory Cross-References
- 14 CFR § 61.109(a)(3) — solo cross-country requirements being accommodated
- 14 CFR § 61.100 — parallel provision for recreational pilots on small islands
FSDO Coordination
Students invoking § 61.111 should coordinate with their local FSDO to confirm the accommodation applies to their geographic situation before training begins.
Source: 14 CFR § 61.111 — eCFR.gov