FAA Flight Instructor Airplane (FIA)Flight Maneuvers and EndorsementsMedium
Before a student pilot's first solo cross-country flight to an unfamiliar airport, 14 CFR 61.93 requires the flight instructor to:
- AEndorse the student's pilot certificate to authorize cross-country privileges
- BProvide a blanket logbook endorsement authorizing all future solo cross-country flights regardless of destination
- CEndorse the student's logbook for that specific flight after reviewing the planned flight with the student
- DEndorse the aircraft's maintenance logbook to certify cross-country airworthiness
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Endorse the student's logbook for that specific flight after reviewing the planned flight with the student
14 CFR 61.93(c) requires that, except for repeated solo flights over the same route under 61.93(b)(1), the instructor review the student's cross-country planning and endorse the student's logbook for that specific flight before it is made.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. There is no cross-country endorsement placed on a student pilot certificate.
- B. A blanket endorsement for any destination is not authorized under 61.93; repeated-route endorsements are limited to a specific route.
- D. Aircraft maintenance logs are unrelated to student pilot cross-country authorization.
Student Solo Cross-Country Endorsement (61.93)
Before each solo cross-country flight (other than repeated flights over an approved route), an instructor must review the flight planning and endorse the student's logbook for that specific flight.
- Endorsement is flight-specific, not certificate-based
- Instructor reviews route, weather, performance planning first
- Different from the repeated-route endorsement under 61.93(b)(1)
- Endorsement is entered in the student's logbook, not aircraft records
Memory trick: 'One flight, one endorsement' — each new cross-country needs its own logbook sign-off.