Cross-Country Flight Planning
Private Pilot ACS · Area I · Task D · 14 CFR 61, 14 CFR 91, FAA-H-8083-25
Everything you need to know about Cross-Country Flight Planning for your private pilot checkride. Aligned to FAA-S-ACS-6C Task I-D, covering tvmdc — heading conversion, navigation log & fuel, notams, tfrs & vfr flight plan.
TVMDC — Heading Conversion PHAK Ch.16 §
Full TVMDC Conversion §
True course ± Variation = Magnetic course ± Deviation = Compass course
Memory: True Virgins Make Dull Company
Variation: Geographic angle between true north and magnetic north. Read from isogonic lines on the sectional chart. Fixed by location.
• East variation = subtract from TC → MC (east is least)
• West variation = add to TC → MC (west is best)
Deviation: Error in a specific compass from magnetic fields inside the aircraft. From the compass deviation card. Unique to each aircraft and each heading.
Example: TC 090°, Var 15°W (add), Dev +2° → MC = 090 + 15 = 105, CC = 105 + 2 = 107°
Memory: True Virgins Make Dull Company
Variation: Geographic angle between true north and magnetic north. Read from isogonic lines on the sectional chart. Fixed by location.
• East variation = subtract from TC → MC (east is least)
• West variation = add to TC → MC (west is best)
Deviation: Error in a specific compass from magnetic fields inside the aircraft. From the compass deviation card. Unique to each aircraft and each heading.
Example: TC 090°, Var 15°W (add), Dev +2° → MC = 090 + 15 = 105, CC = 105 + 2 = 107°
PHAK Ch.16
Wind Correction Angle §
WCA accounts for crosswind drift to maintain the desired ground track.
Quick calculation: WCA ≈ (crosswind component ÷ TAS) × 60
Example: Crosswind component 18 kts, TAS 120 kts → WCA ≈ (18/120) × 60 = 9°. Turn 9° into the wind to compensate.
Using E6B: Set TAS on the speed ring, center the wind, read WCA and GS from the flight computer. EFBs do this automatically but understanding the manual calculation is required for the checkride.
Groundspeed = TAS ± headwind/tailwind component. Head = subtract, tail = add.
Quick calculation: WCA ≈ (crosswind component ÷ TAS) × 60
Example: Crosswind component 18 kts, TAS 120 kts → WCA ≈ (18/120) × 60 = 9°. Turn 9° into the wind to compensate.
Using E6B: Set TAS on the speed ring, center the wind, read WCA and GS from the flight computer. EFBs do this automatically but understanding the manual calculation is required for the checkride.
Groundspeed = TAS ± headwind/tailwind component. Head = subtract, tail = add.
PHAK Ch.17
Navigation Log & Fuel 14 CFR 91.151 §
Fuel Requirements §
Day VFR: Enough fuel to reach the first intended destination plus 30 minutes at normal cruise speed.
Night VFR: First destination plus 45 minutes at normal cruise speed.
Fuel planning process:
1. Look up fuel flow in POH at planned power setting and altitude
2. Calculate burn per leg (flow × time)
3. Sum all legs
4. Add reserve
5. Add taxi/runup allowance (typically 1.0–1.5 gal)
6. Compare to usable fuel capacity
Usable vs total fuel: Some aircraft have unusable fuel (trapped below fuel outlet). Use only usable fuel in planning.
Convert gallons → pounds: 100LL avgas = 6 lbs/gal
Night VFR: First destination plus 45 minutes at normal cruise speed.
Fuel planning process:
1. Look up fuel flow in POH at planned power setting and altitude
2. Calculate burn per leg (flow × time)
3. Sum all legs
4. Add reserve
5. Add taxi/runup allowance (typically 1.0–1.5 gal)
6. Compare to usable fuel capacity
Usable vs total fuel: Some aircraft have unusable fuel (trapped below fuel outlet). Use only usable fuel in planning.
Convert gallons → pounds: 100LL avgas = 6 lbs/gal
14 CFR 91.151; PHAK Ch.17
NOTAMs, TFRs & VFR Flight Plan AIM Ch.5 §
NOTAM Types §
KNTM (Domestic NOTAMs): Issued by FSS. Covers airport and runway closures, NAVAID outages, lighting changes, obstacles, temporary changes to procedures.
FDC (Flight Data Center): Regulatory NOTAMs — changes to instrument approach procedures, chart corrections, TFRs, airspace changes. Published by FAA.
GPS NOTAMs: GPS testing or interference affecting GPS reception in specific areas.
POIW: International NOTAMs pointing to additional information for international flights.
Check NOTAMs at 1800wxbrief.com or via EFB app. Always check within 1–2 hours of departure for fresh TFRs.
Runway closures in NOTAMs: Specified as M (marked), L (lighted), C (closed).
FDC (Flight Data Center): Regulatory NOTAMs — changes to instrument approach procedures, chart corrections, TFRs, airspace changes. Published by FAA.
GPS NOTAMs: GPS testing or interference affecting GPS reception in specific areas.
POIW: International NOTAMs pointing to additional information for international flights.
Check NOTAMs at 1800wxbrief.com or via EFB app. Always check within 1–2 hours of departure for fresh TFRs.
Runway closures in NOTAMs: Specified as M (marked), L (lighted), C (closed).
AIM 5-1-3
TFR Types §
91.137(a)(1): Disaster TFR — protects relief aircraft operating below 1,000 AGL. Unauthorized aircraft may still fly above.
91.137(a)(2): Disaster TFR — protects a disaster site. Broader restriction.
91.137(a)(3): Disaster TFR — most restrictive, blanket protection for emergency ops.
91.141: Presidential / VIP movement. Inner ring (typically 10 nm, SFC–FL180) — no civilian flight. Outer ring (30 nm) — ATC coordination required.
91.143: Space operations (rocket launches, landings).
91.145: Aerial demonstrations, air shows.
Check: tfr.faa.gov (interactive map) before every XC and within a few hours of departure.
91.137(a)(2): Disaster TFR — protects a disaster site. Broader restriction.
91.137(a)(3): Disaster TFR — most restrictive, blanket protection for emergency ops.
91.141: Presidential / VIP movement. Inner ring (typically 10 nm, SFC–FL180) — no civilian flight. Outer ring (30 nm) — ATC coordination required.
91.143: Space operations (rocket launches, landings).
91.145: Aerial demonstrations, air shows.
Check: tfr.faa.gov (interactive map) before every XC and within a few hours of departure.
14 CFR 91.137–91.145
VFR Flight Plan — Filing & Closing §
Not legally required for VFR but strongly recommended — it is your SAR safety net.
File with: FSS via 1800wxbrief.com, phone 1-800-WX-BRIEF, or EFB app.
Contents: Aircraft type/ID, TAS, departure airport and time, cruise altitude, route, destination, ETE, fuel aboard (in hours + minutes), POB (persons on board), pilot name and contact.
Activate: Call FSS on 122.2 MHz after departure or before when filing.
CLOSE after landing: Call FSS or use EFB. If not closed within 30 minutes of ETA, the FAA/USAF Rescue Coordination Center initiates a search. Failure to close = significant emergency response resources wasted.
File with: FSS via 1800wxbrief.com, phone 1-800-WX-BRIEF, or EFB app.
Contents: Aircraft type/ID, TAS, departure airport and time, cruise altitude, route, destination, ETE, fuel aboard (in hours + minutes), POB (persons on board), pilot name and contact.
Activate: Call FSS on 122.2 MHz after departure or before when filing.
CLOSE after landing: Call FSS or use EFB. If not closed within 30 minutes of ETA, the FAA/USAF Rescue Coordination Center initiates a search. Failure to close = significant emergency response resources wasted.
AIM 5-1-4, 5-1-13
VFR Cruising Altitudes & Intercept §
VFR cruising altitude rule (above 3,000 ft AGL, not MSL):
MC 0–179° (East): odd thousands + 500 ft → 3,500 / 5,500 / 7,500
MC 180–359° (West): even thousands + 500 ft → 4,500 / 6,500 / 8,500
Intercept procedures (14 CFR 91.3, ICAO Annex 2): If intercepted by military aircraft:
• Rock wings to acknowledge
• Turn and follow the intercepting aircraft
• Do not transmit without instructions
• Transmit on 121.5 MHz and/or 243.0 MHz
• Squawk 7700 unless instructed otherwise
• Follow ICAO visual signals precisely
ADIZ: File a DVFR flight plan, have two-way radio and operable transponder, depart within 5 min of filed time.
MC 0–179° (East): odd thousands + 500 ft → 3,500 / 5,500 / 7,500
MC 180–359° (West): even thousands + 500 ft → 4,500 / 6,500 / 8,500
Intercept procedures (14 CFR 91.3, ICAO Annex 2): If intercepted by military aircraft:
• Rock wings to acknowledge
• Turn and follow the intercepting aircraft
• Do not transmit without instructions
• Transmit on 121.5 MHz and/or 243.0 MHz
• Squawk 7700 unless instructed otherwise
• Follow ICAO visual signals precisely
ADIZ: File a DVFR flight plan, have two-way radio and operable transponder, depart within 5 min of filed time.
14 CFR 91.159; AIM 5-6-2