Bahamas & Cross-Country Preparation · Source-checked
Overwater cross-country planning
Learning goals
- Plan for overwater risk
- Build fuel and weather margins
Overwater legs reduce your options. The study habits below are GA-7 Cougar suggestions for instructor review, not quotes from a source: plan altitudes that improve gliding or single-engine reach toward land, carry survival equipment suited to the flight, and brief passengers on it.
Weather over water can change quickly, and alternates may be far apart. Build fuel margins well beyond the legal minimum, file and activate a flight plan where required, and use official weather from aviationweather.gov. Review everything with an instructor experienced in the route before you go.
Assigned reading
Aviation Weather Handbook (FAA-H-8083-28B (listed 04/02/2026))
Aviation Weather Handbook (tropical weather, thunderstorm avoidance); AIM Chapter 5 (flight plans) and Chapter 6 (emergencies) · Federal Aviation Administration · reviewed 2026-10-21
Self-check
Original practice questions for self-assessment only — not FAA test questions and not a certification.
Study preparation only. Not FAA-approved ground training, no endorsement, logbook or flight-time credit, and no guaranteed test result. Always follow your instructor and the approved AFM/POH for your aircraft.