FAA Instrument Rating Airplane (IRA)IFR Procedures and ChartsMedium
A pilot planning an IFR flight wants to list Miller Field as the alternate airport, but Miller Field has no published instrument approach procedure. Under what condition may this airport be used as an alternate?
- AIt may never be used as an alternate because 14 CFR 91.169 requires a published instrument approach at any listed alternate
- BIt may be used if forecast weather at the ETA will allow descent from the MEA, approach, and landing under basic VFR conditions
- CIt may be used only if the airport has an operating control tower
- DIt may be used if the airport has a runway at least 5,000 feet long, regardless of forecast weather
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. It may be used if forecast weather at the ETA will allow descent from the MEA, approach, and landing under basic VFR conditions
14 CFR 91.169 and associated guidance permit an airport without a published instrument approach to be filed as an alternate only if the pilot can determine that weather conditions at the ETA will allow descent from the MEA, approach, and landing under basic VFR conditions. Runway length and tower status are not the determining factors.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Incorrect — an approach is not always required if VFR descent and landing can be assured
- C. Incorrect — tower operation is unrelated to the alternate airport weather requirement
- D. Incorrect — runway length has no bearing on this regulatory requirement
Alternate Without Published Approach
An airport lacking a published instrument approach may still be filed as an alternate if forecast weather permits descent from the MEA, approach, and landing under basic VFR minimums.
- Governed by 14 CFR 91.169(c)(2)
- Basic VFR minimums must be met at ETA
- This is an exception to needing a published approach for an alternate
Memory trick: No approach? No problem — if VFR skies will let you land anyway.