FAA Airline Transport Pilot (ATM)Navigation, Air Traffic Control and ProceduresMedium
A dispatcher is filing an IFR flight plan and must select an alternate airport that has only nonprecision instrument approaches published, with no special alternate minimums listed. Using standard IFR alternate minimums, what ceiling and visibility must be forecast at the alternate for the ETA?
- A800 feet and 2 statute miles
- B200 feet and 1/2 statute mile
- C1,000 feet and 3 statute miles
- D600 feet and 2 statute miles
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. 800 feet and 2 statute miles
Standard alternate minimums require 800-2 (ceiling 800 ft, visibility 2 SM) for an airport with only nonprecision approaches, and 600-2 for an airport with a precision approach, unless the approach plate specifies otherwise (14 CFR 91.169).
Why the other options are wrong
- B. 200-1/2 approximates a CAT I ILS minimum, not an alternate minimum.
- C. 1,000-3 is more conservative than required and not the standard minimum.
- D. 600-2 applies to airports with a precision (ILS) approach available, not nonprecision only.
Standard IFR Alternate Minimums
Default weather minimums used to qualify an airport as a legal alternate when the approach chart has no 'NA' or special alternate minimums listed.
- Precision approach available: 600 ft ceiling, 2 SM visibility
- Nonprecision approach only: 800 ft ceiling, 2 SM visibility
- Applies under 14 CFR 91.169 for planning purposes
- Charts may publish nonstandard alternate minimums that override these defaults
Memory trick: '6 for Precision, 8 for Non' — 600-2 vs 800-2