You need to name an alternate airport on your IFR flight plan if, for the period of time
one hour before and one hour after your estimated time of arrival
, the weather is forecast to include a ceiling of 2,000 feet agl and/or visibilities less than three statute miles (the 1-2-3 rule).
What qualifies an airport as an alternate?
Not just any airport qualifies as an alternate per 91.169(c). The standard minimum weather requirement for an alternate is
600-2 if there’s a precision approach available and an 800-2 for a non-precision approach
. (Note that the visibility requirement is the same.
When can you not use an airport as an alternate?
[Instrument Procedures Handbook, pg. 2-11] Not all airports can be used as alternate airports. An airport may not be qualified for alternate use if the airport NAVAID is unmonitored,
is Global Positioning System (GPS) based
, or if it does not have weather reporting capabilities.
When selecting an enroute alternate for etops flights What additional requirement must be considered by the dispatcher?
In selecting these ETOPS Alternate Airports, the certificate holder must
consider all adequate airports within the authorized ETOPS diversion time
for the flight that meet the standards of this part. (2) The field condition reports indicate that a safe landing can be made.
When must you file an alternate airport?
You need to name an alternate airport on your IFR flight plan if, for the period of time
one hour before and one hour after your estimated time of arrival
, the weather is forecast to include a ceiling of 2,000 feet agl and/or visibilities less than three statute miles (the 1-2-3 rule).
What are the standard alternate minimums?
The standard alternate minimums are simple:
600-2 for precision approaches, and 800-2 for non-precision approaches
. But non-standard alternate minimums can seem quite complicated.
How do you find alternate minimums?
To view the non-standard IFR alternate minimums information, you will need to go
to the Airports page > search for the airport > on the Procedures sub-tab, tap on Arrival > and then look
for the Alternate minimums line. If there is an entry, tap on it and swipe through the pages until you find the airport in question.
Do alternate minimums apply to helicopters?
Helicopter IFR Alternates
The pilot
must file for an alternate if weather reports and forecasts at the proposed destination do not meet certain minimums
. These minimums differ for Part 91 and Part 135 operators.
What are the minimum weather conditions that must be forecast to list an airport as an alternate when the airport has no approved IAP?
What are the minimum weather conditions that must be forecast to list an airport as an alternate when the airport has no approved IAP?
The ceiling and visibility at ETA must allow descent from MEA, approach, and landing, under basic VFR.
What are the basic VFR minimums?
Basic VFR Weather Minimums
cloud
ceiling at least 1,000 feet AGL
; and. ground visibility at least 3 statute miles (usually measured by ATC but, if not available, flight visibility at least 3 statute miles as estimated by the pilot).
Can an airport that only has a GPS be filed as an alternate?
According to the new policy, which will be added to future versions of the AIM, advisory circulars, and other documents, pilots with non-WAAS GPS navigators can now file an
alternate airport
that is served only by GPS-based instrument approaches, provided the original destination airport has ground-based procedures, or …
What is a take off alternate?
A Take-off alternate is
an aerodrome at which an aircraft would be able to land should this become necessary shortly after take-off
and it is not possible to use the aerodrome of departure.
What are the standard alternate minimums of the alternate has one RNAV approach?
Standard alternate minimums for non-precision approaches and approaches with vertical guidance [NDB, VOR, LOC, TACAN, LDA, SDF, VOR/DME, ASR, RNAV (GPS) or RNAV (RNP)] are
800-2
. Standard alternate minimums for precision approaches (ILS, PAR, or GLS) are 600-2.
Does a take off alternate always need to be nominated?
For the majority of IFR flights, the requirement for alternate aerodromes is limited to one for departure (if required) and at least one for the destination. However, for certain planning procedures
an en-route alternate must be nominated at the planning stage
.
When should you plan for an alternate?
When thunderstorms
, or their associated severe turbulence, or their probability are forecast at the destination, sufficient additional fuel must be carried to permit the aircraft to proceed to a suitable alternate or to hold for: 30 minutes when the forecast is endorsed INTER, or.
What is the difference between suitable and adequate airport?
The definition of a suitable aerodrome is where the weather is above alternate minima. An acceptable aerodrome (adequate, whatever you want to call it) is one
where the weather conditions are below the alternate minima but above the landing minima
.
