Under IFR, when is an alternate airport required?

Under IFR, when is an alternate airport required?

• A. If forecast ETA +/- 1 hour indicates the destination ceiling below 2000 ft or visibility below 3 SM.
• B. Only for international flights.
• C. Always required.
• D. Only when no suitable alternate is available.

Answer: (A)

In IFR flight planning, you determine whether you must designate an alternate airport by looking at the forecast weather at the destination for the ETA window (typically within plus or minus one hour). If the forecast ceiling is below 2000 feet or the visibility is below 3 statute miles, an alternate airport is required. This provides a backup plan in case the destination becomes unusable due to weather when you arrive. If the forecast meets or exceeds those minima, you may not need an alternate, assuming other requirements are met. The other choices aren’t correct because this rule applies to both domestic and international planning and you don’t always need an alternate—only when the forecast indicates the destination may not be suitable.

In IFR flight planning, you determine whether you must designate an alternate airport by looking at the forecast weather at the destination for the ETA window (typically within plus or minus one hour). If the forecast ceiling is below 2000 feet or the visibility is below 3 statute miles, an alternate airport is required. This provides a backup plan in case the destination becomes unusable due to weather when you arrive. If the forecast meets or exceeds those minima, you may not need an alternate, assuming other requirements are met. The other choices aren’t correct because this rule applies to both domestic and international planning and you don’t always need an alternate—only when the forecast indicates the destination may not be suitable.