A Part 121 dispatcher is assessing an airport for use as a destination for a flag operation. The airport has a single instrument approach procedure. Under 14 CFR 121.621, what weather conditions are required at the destination airport at the estimated time of arrival (ETA) for dispatch without an alternate, if the aircraft is a two-engine turbojet?
- ACeiling 1,500 feet above the lowest circling MDA and visibility 3 statute miles.
- BCeiling 1,000 feet above the airport elevation and visibility 2 miles.
- CCeiling 1,000 feet above the lowest initial approach segment minimum altitude or 400 feet above the airport elevation, whichever is higher, and visibility 2 statute miles.
- DCeiling 2,000 feet above the airport elevation and visibility 3 statute miles.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. Ceiling 2,000 feet above the airport elevation and visibility 3 statute miles.
14 CFR 121.621(a) outlines the requirements for dispatching a flag operation without an alternate. For an airport with at least one instrument approach, the weather at the ETA must be at or above the authorized landing minimums for that approach. However, for dispatch without an alternate, 121.621(a)(1) requires a forecast for at least 2,000 feet ceiling and 3 statute miles visibility at the ETA for domestic and flag operations. This is a common rule often confused with alternate airport weather minimums.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. This describes standard alternate airport weather minimums, not destination dispatch without an alternate.
- B. This is incorrect; 1,000/2 is not the standard for dispatching without an alternate.
- C. This describes alternate airport weather minimums for airports with only a circling approach, not destination dispatch without an alternate.
Flag Alternate Weather Rule (121.621)
Governs when an alternate airport is required for Part 121 flag operations based on destination weather forecasts.
- Requires an alternate if destination weather is below specific minimums.
- 2,000 ft ceiling and 3 SM visibility is the threshold for dispatching without an alternate.
- Different rules apply for destination vs. alternate airport forecasts.
Memory trick: Flag No-Alternate: 'F' for Forecast, 'L' for Landing, 'A' for Alternate, 'G' for Global. Two thousand, three miles, you're free!