Table of Contents
- 1 What qualifies as an alternate airfield?
- 2 What airports can never be used as alternates?
- 3 Under what conditions can you file an airport for an alternate if it does not have an instrument approach procedure?
- 4 When should you plan for an alternate?
- 5 What is departure alternate?
- 6 How far away should an alternate be?
- 7 When do you need an alternate airport?
- 8 What does ‘still air’ mean?
What qualifies as an alternate airfield?
Alternate aerodromes may be designated as Take-off , En-route or Destination alternates. ICAO defines each of these as follows: 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 airports can never be used as alternates?
The GPS Rules, Prior to 4 April 2013 [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.
What are the requirements for a takeoff alternate?
IFR takeoff alternates are required when weather conditions are above takeoff minimums, but below landing minimums for the departure runway or airport. Takeoff alternates aren’t required under Part 91, and usually only apply to Part 135 or Part 121 Air Carriers.
What is the rule or regulation for a departure alternate on the dispatch release for an aircraft with two engines?
one hour
(1) Aircraft having two engines. Not more than one hour from the departure airport at normal cruising speed in still air with one engine inoperative.
Under what conditions can you file an airport for an alternate if it does not have an instrument approach procedure?
Technically you can file an alternate at an airport without an instrument approach, but the forecasted conditions at the time arrival must allow for descent from the MEA (minimum en route altitude), approach, and landing under VFR.
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.
Can you use a GPS approach as an alternative?
For airports with both ground-based navaid IAPs and GPS-based IAPs, the GPS-based IAPs typically would show as NA for filing as an alternate. The NOTAM now allows an option to flight plan for use of a GPS-based IAP at either the destination or the alternate airport, but not at both locations.
Can you use RNAV for alternate?
(4) The Operator/Company may use suitable RNAV systems for flight planning at an alternate airport, provided planned availability of the substitute means of navigation is confirmed (e.g. NOTAMs and RAIM prediction for use of GPS and NOTAM/AIS checks for use of WAAS).
What is departure alternate?
Departure Alternate Planning is required for commercial airline operations. It considers the scenario where an engine fails and the aircraft is unable to return to its departure airport. In this case the planner usually considers flying for 60 minutes at current loading to find a suitable alternate airport.
How far away should an alternate be?
From one hour before until one hour after the aircraft’s estimated time of arrival, the destination forecast must call for a ceiling of at least 2,000 feet and a visibility of at least three statute miles. Anything less requires an alternate. But not every airport can serve as an IFR alternate.
What are the alternate minimums that must be forecast at the proposed alternate airport if that airport has published VOR and ILS approach procedures?
Basically, to qualify as an alternate airport, the alternate must have certain forecast weather conditions (600-2 for precision approach, 800-2 for non-precision.) These are the “alternate minimums”.
Can I fly IFR without GPS?
GPS equipment must be IFR certified and contain the current database. It is not necessary to have DME, ADF or even GPS provided that you can fly two different nonprecision approaches and one precision approach.
When do you need an alternate airport?
To recap, if the weather at your destination isn’t at least 3 SM of visibility and 2000′ AGL ceilings from 1 hour before to 1 hour after your ETA, you need to file an alternate. So if you need an alternate airport, how good does the weather at your alternate need to be?
What does ‘still air’ mean?
IN GENERAL, “still air” means air with no wind and no vertical air motion.$\\endgroup$– quiet flyerMay 8 ’19 at 20:01 1 $\\begingroup$As far as I’m aware (and I’m pretty confident) there are no regulations that require vertical air motion to be considered for any flight planning purpose for powered aircraft.
Should I file an alternate on my IFR flight plan?
Filing an alternate on your IFR flight plan is for planning purposes only, and once you’re airborne, you can change your alternate if you need to. That being said, just because you don’t have to fly to an alternate doesn’t mean you shouldn’t put a lot of consideration into your choice.
How do I plan an alternate flight?
Fly to your intended destination. Fly from the destination to the alternate (if required). Fly for an additional 45 minutes at normal cruise speed (minimum). Alternate planning shouldn’t be based on weather alone. There are other factors that you should include during your planning as well: