FAR 61.111 — Island Cross-Country Training
FAR 61.111 explains how private pilot applicants on small islands meet cross-country training requirements and the certificate limitations that apply.
In Plain English
FAR 61.111 provides relief for private pilot applicants based on small islands where completing the standard cross-country training in § 61.109 would require flying more than 10 nautical miles from the nearest shoreline over water.
Here's how it works:
- (a) Exemption: If you can't complete the § 61.109 cross-country training without flying over water more than 10 NM from shore, you don't have to meet those requirements.
- (b) Alternative airports: If other civil airports are reachable without crossing more than 10 NM of open water, you must complete two round-trip solo flights between the two farthest such airports, landing at each airport on both flights.
- (c) Certificate limitation: Applicants using this relief receive a private pilot certificate endorsed with: "Passenger carrying prohibited on flights more than 10 nautical miles from (the appropriate island)." The limitation can be amended to add other islands if paragraph (b) is satisfied for them.
- (d) Removal: Once the full § 61.109 cross-country training is completed, the limitation can be removed.
This matters operationally because it lets island-based students earn a certificate without unsafe overwater flights, while protecting passengers until full cross-country experience is gained.
Regulation Text
14 CFR § 61.111§ 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]
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Oral Exam Questions a DPE Might Ask
Q1If you trained for your private pilot certificate on a small island, what cross-country training relief is available to you?
Under FAR 61.111(a), if the § 61.109 cross-country training can't be completed without flying over water more than 10 NM from the nearest shoreline, the applicant doesn't have to meet those § 61.109 cross-country requirements.
Q2What limitation appears on a private pilot certificate issued under FAR 61.111, and can it ever be removed?
Per FAR 61.111(c), the certificate is endorsed "Passenger carrying prohibited on flights more than 10 nautical miles from (the appropriate island)." Under FAR 61.111(d), the limitation may be removed once the applicant completes the cross-country training in § 61.109.
Q3If reachable airports exist without crossing more than 10 NM of open water, what must an island-based applicant do instead of the standard § 61.109 cross-countries?
FAR 61.111(b) requires the applicant to complete two round-trip solo flights between the two farthest such airports, with a landing at each airport on both flights.
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§61.113 Privileges & Limits
Private pilot compensation, pro-rata sharing, and BasicMed limits
§61.57 Recent Flight Experience
90-day passenger, night, and instrument currency rules
§61.89 Student Pilot Limitations
Solo student limits: no passengers, no compensation, minimum visibility
§61.51 Pilot Logbooks
Logging training, aeronautical experience, and recency for certificates
§61.23 Medical Certificate Duration
First-, second-, and third-class medical requirement and validity periods
Instrument Rating Requirements
IFR eligibility and aeronautical experience
Related Sections in Part 61