Plain English Meaning

A flight that goes from one airport to another far enough away that you have to actively navigate to get there, rather than just flying around the local area.

Full Definition

A flight conducted between two points using navigation, generally involving a landing at an airport other than the departure airport. Under 14 CFR Part 61, cross-country time logged toward most pilot certificates and ratings requires a landing at a point more than a specified straight-line distance from the original point of departure (commonly 50 nautical miles), and the use of pilotage, dead reckoning, electronic navigation, or radio aids during the flight.