FAA Instrument Rating Airplane (IRA)Regulations and CurrencyHard
A pilot wants to list an airport with no published instrument approach procedure as an IFR alternate. Under 14 CFR 91.169(c)(2), what condition allows this airport to qualify as a usable alternate?
- AThe pilot must hold a commercial pilot certificate
- BForecast ceiling and visibility at the ETA must allow descent from the MEA/MOCA, approach, and landing under basic VFR minimums
- CThe airport must have an hourly weather reporting facility
- DThe airport must have an operating control tower
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Forecast ceiling and visibility at the ETA must allow descent from the MEA/MOCA, approach, and landing under basic VFR minimums
14 CFR 91.169(c)(2) allows an airport without a published standard instrument approach to be used as an alternate only if the forecast weather permits descent from the en route MEA/MOCA, an approach, and a landing under basic VFR conditions.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Certificate level is unrelated to alternate airport selection criteria.
- C. Weather reporting is helpful but not the regulatory qualifying condition itself.
- D. A control tower has no bearing on alternate airport eligibility.
Alternate Without Published Approach
An airport lacking a published instrument approach may still serve as an alternate if forecast weather allows descending from the MEA/MOCA and landing under basic VFR minimums, per 91.169(c)(2).
- Applies when no standard instrument approach procedure exists at that airport
- Forecast must support VFR descent, approach, and landing at ETA
- Different from standard alternate minimums, which apply when an approach IS published
Memory trick: 'No approach? Then it must go VFR'