Take-off alternate aerodrome
An operator shall only select an aerodrome as a take-off alternate aerodrome when the appropriate weather reports or forecasts or any combination thereof indicate that, during a period commencing one hour before and ending one hour after the estimated time of arrival at the aerodrome, the weather conditions will be at or above the applicable landing minima specified in accordance with the Aerodrome operating minima. The ceiling must be taken into account when the only approaches available are non-precision and/or circling approaches. Any limitation related to one-engine-inoperative operations must be taken into account.
Destination aerodrome (except isolated destination aerodromes)
An operator shall only select the destination aerodrome and when:
1. the appropriate weather reports or forecasts, or any combination thereof, indicate that, during a period commencing one hour before and ending one hour after the estimated time of arrival at the aerodrome, the weather conditions will be at or above the applicable planning minima as follows:
(i) RVR/visibility specified in accordance with the Aerodrome operating minima; and
(ii) For a non-precision approach or a circling approach, the ceiling at or above MDH; or
2. two destination alternate aerodromes are selected.
Destination alternate aerodrome, or isolated aerodrome, or 3 % ERA aerodrome, or en-route alternate aerodrome required at the planning stage
An operator shall only select an aerodrome for one of those purposes when the appropriate weather reports or forecasts, or any combination thereof, indicate that, during a period commencing one hour before and ending one hour after the estimated time of arrival at the aerodrome, the weather conditions will be at or above the planning minima.
| Type of Approach | Planning minima |
|---|---|
| CAT III and CAT II | CAT I #1 |
| CAT I | Non-precision #1 #2 #3 |
| Non-precision | Non-precision #1 #2 #3 plus 1 000 m / 200 ft |
| Circling | Circling |
#1 RVR.
#2 The ceiling must be at or above MDH.
#3 Non-precision minima means the next highest minimum that is available in the prevailing wind conditions. Localiser only approaches, if published, are considered to be non-precision in this context.
ETOPS en-route alternate aerodrome
An operator shall only select an aerodrome as an ETOPS en-route alternate aerodrome when the appropriate weather reports or forecasts, or any combination thereof, indicate that, between the anticipated time of landing until one hour after the latest possible time of landing, conditions calculated by adding the additional limits of the ETOPS Planning minima. An operator shall include in the Operations Manual the method for determining the operating minima at the planned ETOPS en-route alternate aerodrome.
ETOPS Planning minima
| Approach facility | Alternate airfield ceiling | Weather minima Visibility/RVR |
|---|---|---|
| Precision approach procedure | Authorised DH/DA plus an increment increment of 200 ft | Authorised visibility plus an increment of 800 metres |
| Non-precision approach or circling approach | Authorised MDH/MDA plus an increment increment of 400 ft | Authorised visibility plus an increment increment of 400 ft of 1500 metres |
Source: EU-OPS