FAA Airline Transport Pilot (ATM)Regulations (14 CFR 117/121/61)Hard
A dispatcher is selecting an alternate airport for a Part 121 flight. The alternate has only nonprecision approaches published, and no other alternate minimums are specified for that airport. Under standard alternate minimums, what ceiling and visibility must be forecast for the alternate to be used?
- A400-foot ceiling and 1 statute mile visibility
- B1,000-foot ceiling and 3 statute miles 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 for an airport with only nonprecision approach procedures require a forecast ceiling of at least 800 feet and visibility of at least 2 statute miles. Airports with at least one precision approach use lower standard minimums of 600-2 unless other minima are published.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. 400-1 is far below the required standard alternate minimums.
- B. 1,000-3 is higher than the standard alternate minimum requires.
- D. 600-2 applies to airports with precision approaches available, not nonprecision-only.
Standard Alternate Minimums
Default weather minimums used to qualify an airport as an alternate when no other minimums are published: 600-2 for precision approach airports, 800-2 for nonprecision-only airports.
- 600-foot ceiling/2 SM for precision approach alternates
- 800-foot ceiling/2 SM for nonprecision-only alternates
- Higher published minimums, if any, take precedence
Memory trick: 'Eight hundred, no glide slope' — nonprecision alternates need 800-2.