Alternate Aerodrome Requirements for IFR Flights

Alternate Requirements Suitability of Alternates When a flight is required to provide for an alternate aerodrome, any aerodrome may be so nominated for that flight provided: a. it is suitable as a destination for that flight; and b. is not an aerodrome for which that flight would require to provide for an alternate aerodrome; and c. is not a helideck Alternates Could Very Well Prove Life Savers Aids Part 91 aircraft: A destination alternate aerodrome must be planned for an IFR flight by night to a planned destination aerodrome that is: a) not served by an instrument approach procedure; or b) is served by 1 or more instrument approach procedures, none of which the pilot is able to conduct. For IFR flights, the alternate minima are as follows: a. For aerodromes with an instrument approach procedure that the pilot is able to conduct, the alternate minima published on the chart b. By day only – for aerodromes without an instrument approach procedure, or that has an instrument approach procedure but the pilot is unable to conduct that procedure, the alternate minima is the lowest safe altitude for the final route segment plus 500FT and a visibility of 8KM. If aircraft navigation is to be conducted using a GNSS receiver certified only to (E)TSO C-129, navigation to a destination alternate aerodrome must be planned using a navigation system other than GNSS. Night VFR aircraft must provide for a suitable alternate aerodrome within one hour flight time of the destination unless: a. the destination is served by a radio navigation aid (NDB/VOR) and the aircraft is fitted with the appropriate radio navigation system capable of using the aid, and the pilot is competent in using the aid, or b. the aircraft is fitted with an approved GNSS, as defined in the relevant MOS for the kind of operation being conducted), and the pilot is competent in using the GNSS. Clouds, Visibility and Wind Except when operating an aircraft under the VFR by day within 50NM of the point of departure, the pilot in command must provide for a suitable alternate aerodrome when arrival at the destination will be during the currency of, or up to 30 minutes prior to the forecast commencement of, the following weather conditions: cloud - more than SCT below the alternate minimum or visibility - less than the alternate minimum; or visibility - greater than the alternate minimum, but the forecast is endorsed with at least a 30% percentage probability of fog, mist, dust or any other phenomenon restricting visibility below the alternate minimum; or wind - a crosswind or tailwind component more than the maximum for the aircraft. Note: Wind gusts must be considered. Provided and PROB When an aerodrome forecast is not available, the pilot in command must make provision for a suitable alternate that has an available forecast. If a TAF has been endorsed with a probability of conditions being below the alternate minima, an alternate must be planned for. Lighting When aerodrome lighting is required and PAL is not being used, the pilot in command or operator must ensure that arrangements have been made for the lighting to be operating during the following periods: a. departure: 10 minutes before departure to at least 30 minutes after takeoff; b. arrival: from at least 30 minutes before ETA to the time landing and taxiing has been completed. Portable Lighting When a flight is planned to land at night at an aerodrome where the runway lighting is portable, provision must be made for flight to an alternate aerodrome unless arrangements are made for a responsible person to be in attendance during the period specified in AIP ENR 1.1 Para 10.8.1.1 (Jepp ATC – Airports and Ground Aids 2.1), to ensure that the runway lights are available during that period. If No Standby Power Available When a flight is planned to land at night at an aerodrome with electric runway lighting, whether pilot activated or otherwise, but without standby power, provision must be made for flight to an alternate aerodrome unless portable runway lights are available and arrangements have been made for a responsible person to be in attendance during the period specified in AIP ENR 1.1 Para 10.8.1.1 (Jepp ATC – Airports and Ground Aids 2.1), to display the portable lights in the event of a failure of the primary lighting. An alternate aerodrome nominated in accordance with the requirements in AIP ENR 1.1 paras 10.7.4.2 and 10.7.4.3 (Jepp ATC - Airports and Ground Aids 3.4.2 and 3.4.3) need not have standby power or standby portable runway lighting. Pilot Activated Lighting When a flight is planned to land at night at an aerodrome with PAL and standby power, provision must be made for a flight to an alternate aerodrome equipped with runway lighting unless a responsible person is in attendance to manually switch on the aerodrome lighting. An alternate aerodrome nominated in accordance with the requirements in AIP ENR 1.1 paras 10.7.4.2 and 10.7.4.3 (Jepp ATC – Airports and Ground Aids 3.4.2 and 3.4.3) need not have standby power or standby portable runway lighting. Lighting Systems for Alternate Aerodrome An aerodrome served by PAL may be nominated as an alternate aerodrome. There is no requirement for a responsible person to be in attendance, but the aircraft must be equipped with: a. dual VHF; or b. single VHF and HF and carries 30 minutes holding fuel to allow for the alerting of ground staff in the event of a failure of the aircraft’s VHF communication. Storms The pilot in command must provide for a suitable alternate aerodrome when arrival at the destination will be during the currency of, or up to 30 minutes prior to the forecast commencement of, the following weather conditions: d. a thunderstorm or associated severe turbulence, or a forecast of at least a 30% probability of such an event; When thunderstorms or their associated severe turbulence or their probability is forecast at the destination, sufficient additional fuel must be carried to permit the aircraft to proceed to a suitable alternate or to hold for: a. 30 minutes when the forecast is endorsed INTER; or b. 60 minutes when the forecast is endorsed TEMPO. Special Alternate Weather Minima Special alternate weather minima are available for specified approaches at some airports for use by aircraft with dual ILS/VOR approach capability. Dual ILS/VOR approach capability must include: a. duplicated LOC; and b. duplicated GP; and c. duplicated VOR; and d. either: (i) duplicated DME; or (ii) duplicated GNSS; or (iii) single DME and single GNSS. Special alternate weather minima are identified on applicable instrument approach charts by a double asterisk adjacent to the ALTERNATE title and a note