Phase 3 — Post-solo skill expansion

With solo behind you, training widens out.

Dual cross-country flights first, then solo cross-country under a specific endorsement from your instructor. Distances and landings are counted from the From/To airports on your logbook entries, so enter them properly.

Night dual, including night takeoffs and landings at a towered field and a night cross-country. Night landings log in their own column and Milestones reads that column.

Simulated instrument time with an instructor — attitude flying, recovery from unusual attitudes, and navigation by reference to instruments alone. Log it in simulated instrument, on the same row as the dual received.

Navigation, cross-country planning, weather services, performance and weight and balance. Your ground school reports these as they are covered.

Many pilots take the FAA knowledge test during this phase. The endorsement to take it comes from an instructor and lands in your Vault.

Next: Phase 4 — experience minimums.