A Part 121 air carrier is preparing a dispatch release for a domestic flight. The destination airport has a single usable instrument approach procedure. The latest weather forecast for the estimated time of arrival at the destination indicates a ceiling of 800 feet and visibility of 2 miles. Under 14 CFR 121.619, what is the minimum ceiling and visibility required at the destination for this flight to be dispatched without a destination alternate?
- A1,500 feet ceiling and 2 miles visibility
- B800 feet ceiling and 2 miles visibility
- C1,000 feet ceiling and 3 miles visibility
- D2,000 feet ceiling and 3 miles visibility
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. 2,000 feet ceiling and 3 miles visibility
Under 14 CFR 121.619(a), a destination alternate is not required if, for at least 1 hour before and 1 hour after the estimated time of arrival, the appropriate weather reports or forecasts, or any combination thereof, indicate that the ceiling will be at least 2,000 feet above the airport elevation and the visibility will be at least 3 miles. This is known as the '1-2-3 Rule' for Part 121 domestic operations.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. This is incorrect; the ceiling requirement is higher and visibility is lower than needed.
- B. This is the current forecast and is below the required minimums for dispatch without an alternate.
- C. This is the '1-2-3 Rule' for Part 91, which is 1,000 feet ceiling and 3 miles visibility. Part 121 domestic operations have a higher standard.
121.619 Destination Alternate Rule
14 CFR 121.619 outlines when a destination alternate airport is not required for Part 121 domestic and flag operations. For domestic operations, an alternate is not needed if the weather forecast for 1 hour before to 1 hour after the ETA shows a ceiling of at least 2,000 feet above the airport elevation and visibility of at least 3 miles.
- Mandates an alternate unless specific weather conditions met.
- For domestic/flag ops, refers to '1 hour before to 1 hour after ETA'.
- Requires 2,000 ft ceiling and 3 miles visibility (the '1-2-3 Rule' for Part 121 is 2,000-3, not 1,000-3).
- Different rules apply for supplemental operations.
Memory trick: Two-thousand-three, no alternate for ME!