Cross-country flights: Pilots based on small islands

This regulation provides an alternative path to a private pilot certificate for student pilots based on small islands where standard cross-country training would require flying more than 10 nautical miles over water from the nearest shoreline.

If no suitable airports exist within that 10-mile water distance, you can skip the normal cross-country requirements entirely. If other civil airports do exist within that range, you must complete two round-trip solo flights between the two farthest airports, landing at each airport on both flights.

Either way, your private pilot certificate will include a limitation prohibiting you from carrying passengers on flights more than 10 nautical miles from your island. This limitation can be removed later by completing the standard cross-country training requirements of §61.109, or amended to include additional islands by completing the required flights from those islands.

*This is a plain-English summary for study only. The official 14 CFR text on this page is controlling — always read the current regulation and consult a CFI.*