Helicopter Night and Cross-Country Under 14 CFR 61.109(c)
Helicopter private-pilot applicants use 14 CFR 61.109(c), not 61.109(a). The night and cross-country numbers are shorter than the airplane ones, which is helpful until someone trains from an airplane checklist and shows up short — or the other way around. This page is the night and XC deep dive. For the full helicopter hour table, see 61.109(c) Private Pilot Helicopter Logbook Checklist. If you train in a Robinson R22 or R44, add SFAR 73 on top.
Night training: 61.109(c)(2)
Except as provided in § 61.110, a helicopter private applicant must log 3 hours of night flight training in a helicopter that includes:
| # | Requirement | Reg |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 hours night flight training in a helicopter | 61.109(c)(2) |
| 1a | One night cross-country flight of over 50 nautical miles total distance | 61.109(c)(2)(i) |
| 1b | 10 takeoffs and 10 landings to a full stop, each involving a flight in the traffic pattern, at an airport | 61.109(c)(2)(ii) |
Source: eCFR § 61.109(c)(2), verified via the eCFR API (title up to date as of 2026-10-22).
Compared with airplane 61.109(a)(2): airplane night XC must be over 100 NM total distance; helicopter night XC must be over 50 NM. The 10 full-stop night takeoffs and landings in the traffic pattern are the same idea for both. Helicopter private under 61.109(c) has no separate 3-hour instrument-training line item (that is airplane (a)(3)).
What "night" means here
Part 1 defines night as the time between the end of evening civil twilight and the beginning of morning civil twilight (14 CFR 1.1, "Night"). Passenger night currency under 61.57(b) uses a different window: beginning 1 hour after sunset and ending 1 hour before sunrise. Log which condition you flew so training and later currency are not confused.
Alaska exception
If you receive flight training in and reside in Alaska, 61.110 allows the same "Night flying prohibited" path described for airplane: complete night training within 12 calendar months after issuance, or the certificate is invalid for use until you do. Confirm with your instructor before you plan around it.
Cross-country training and solo XC: 61.109(c)(1) and (c)(4)
| # | Requirement | Reg |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 3 hours cross-country flight training in a helicopter | 61.109(c)(1) |
| 3 | Within the 10 hours of solo in a helicopter: 3 hours solo cross-country | 61.109(c)(4)(i) |
| 3a | One solo XC of 100 NM total distance, landings at three points, one segment a straight-line distance of more than 25 NM | 61.109(c)(4)(ii) |
| 3b | 3 solo full-stop takeoffs and landings at an airport with an operating control tower | 61.109(c)(4)(iii) |
Source: eCFR § 61.109(c)(1), (c)(4).
Compared with airplane 61.109(a)(5): airplane solo XC time is 5 hours; the long solo XC is 150 NM total, three full-stop landings, and one leg more than 50 NM. Helicopter solo XC time is 3 hours; the long solo XC is 100 NM, three landing points, and one leg more than 25 NM. Note that (c)(4)(ii) says "landings at three points," while the airplane rule explicitly requires full-stop landings at three points. Follow the helicopter text and your instructor's briefing for how those three points are logged.
What counts as helicopter "cross-country time" (61.1)
For meeting aeronautical experience requirements for a pilot certificate with a rotorcraft category rating, cross-country time is time acquired during a flight that:
- Is conducted in an appropriate aircraft;
- Includes a point of landing that was at least a straight-line distance of more than 25 nautical miles from the original point of departure; and
- Involves dead reckoning, pilotage, electronic navigation aids, radio aids, or other navigation systems to navigate to the landing point.
Source: 14 CFR 61.1, "Cross-country time" (v), eCFR API text current as of 2026-10-22.
The more than 50 NM rule in 61.1 "Cross-country time" (ii) is for private/commercial/instrument aeronautical experience except for a rotorcraft category rating. Helicopter private XC toward 61.109(c) uses paragraph (v): more than 25 NM straight-line to a landing point. That lines up with the long-solo-XC leg in 61.109(c)(4)(ii) (also more than 25 NM). A hop to a landing 20 NM away does not count as XC time toward these requirements under (v).
Caveat: older study materials and some checklists still describe helicopter XC as if only the general landing-other-than-departure rule applied. Use the current eCFR text of 61.1(v) and ask your instructor how your school measures and logs it.
R22 / R44 students: SFAR 73 still applies
Night and XC under 61.109(c) do not replace SFAR 73. Before solo in an R22 or R44, a person who does not already hold a helicopter rating needs at least 20 hours of flight training in that model from an authorized instructor, plus a model-specific solo endorsement valid for 90 days, and the SFAR 73 awareness ground training before manipulating the controls for flight (SFAR No. 73 §2(a), §2(b)(3) for the R22, §2(b)(4) for the R44). Details: SFAR 73 requirements and helicopter endorsement order.
Worked example (made-up logbook, for illustration only)
Example student: Helicopter dual XC 3.2 hours. Night dual 3.1 hours with a night XC of 52 NM total distance and 10 full-stop night landings. Solo XC 2.5 hours. Longest solo XC: 108 NM total, three landing points, longest leg 24 NM straight-line.
- Dual XC hours: met (61.109(c)(1)).
- Night hours, night XC over 50 NM, night landings: met (61.109(c)(2)).
- Solo XC hours: 2.5 of 3.0 → not met (61.109(c)(4)(i)).
- Long solo XC leg: 24 is not more than 25 NM → not met (61.109(c)(4)(ii)), even though total distance was over 100 NM.
Self-check
- Night: ≥3.0 hours in a helicopter; night XC over 50 NM total; 10 full-stop night takeoffs and 10 landings in the pattern.
- Dual XC: ≥3.0 hours that qualify under 61.1(v) (>25 NM landing point).
- Solo XC: ≥3.0 hours; one 100 NM three-point flight with a leg >25 NM; 3 towered-airport solo full-stop landings.
- If you fly an R22 or R44, check SFAR 73 ground training, 20 hours dual in type before solo, and a current 90-day solo endorsement.
- Do not copy airplane 100 NM / 150 NM / 50 NM numbers onto a helicopter logbook.
Related guides
- 61.109(c) full helicopter checklist
- SFAR 73 for R22/R44
- Helicopter endorsements in training order
- Airplane night training checklist
Want a second set of eyes? Cleared 2 Checkride checks each 61.109(c) night and cross-country item from photos of your paper logbook, plus SFAR 73 for R22/R44 and the AC 61-65K endorsement checklist. See the sample report on cleared2checkride.com. $24.99 per check, re-check after fixes included. It's a prep aid; your instructor and examiner make the final call.