FAA Instrument Rating Airplane (IRA)Regulations and CurrencyMedium
A pilot is selecting an alternate airport for an IFR flight plan. The only published instrument approach at that airport is a non-precision (LNAV) approach; no precision approach exists. Applying the standard alternate minimums of 14 CFR 91.169, what ceiling and visibility must be forecast for the alternate at the ETA?
- A1,000-foot ceiling and 3 statute miles visibility
- B400-foot ceiling and 1 statute mile visibility
- C800-foot ceiling and 2 statute miles visibility
- D600-foot ceiling and 2 statute miles visibility
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. 800-foot ceiling and 2 statute miles visibility
Standard alternate minimums under 91.169 require 600-2 for an airport with a precision approach and 800-2 for an airport with only a non-precision approach. Since only an LNAV (non-precision) approach is published, 800-2 applies.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. 1,000-3 is not a standard alternate minimum category.
- B. 400-1 is far below any standard alternate minimum.
- D. 600-2 applies only when a precision approach is published at the alternate.
Standard Alternate Minimums
Ceiling/visibility values used to determine if an airport with a published approach qualifies as an IFR alternate when no other minimums are specified.
- Precision approach available: 600-foot ceiling, 2 SM visibility
- Non-precision approach only: 800-foot ceiling, 2 SM visibility
- These apply unless the approach chart lists 'NA' or different alternate minimums
Memory trick: 'Six hundred for precision, eight hundred without'