An operator shall establish procedures for the selection of destination and/or alternate aerodromes which are authorized for use when planning a flight. The required selected aerodrome(s) shall be specified in the operational flight plan.
Take-off Alternate Selection
An operator must select a take-off alternate aerodrome if it would not be possible to return to the departure aerodrome for meteorological or performance reasons. The take-off alternate aerodrome, in relation to the departure aerodrome, shall be located within:
a) For Aircraft having two engines, either:
– one hour flight time at a one-engine-inoperative cruising speed according to the Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) in still air standard conditions based on the actual take-off mass;
or
– At the operator’s approved ETOPS diversion time, subject to any Minimum Equipment List (MEL) restriction, up to a maximum of two hours, at the one-engine-inoperative cruising speed according to the AFM in still air standard conditions based on the actual take-off mass for aeroplanes and crews authorised for ETOPS
b) For Aircraft having three or more engines
Two hours flight time at a One-Engine-Inoperative cruising speed according to the AFM in still air standard conditions based on the actual take-off mass for three and four-engine aircraft. If the AFM does not contain a one-engine-inoperative cruising speed, the speed to be used for calculation must be that which is achieved with the remaining engine(s) set at maximum continuous power.
Destination Alternate Selection
An operator must select at least one destination alternate for each IFR flight unless:
•The duration of the planned flight from take-off to landing or, in the event of in-flight re-planning in accordance with the authorized fuel policy, the remaining flying time to destination does not exceed six hours, and
•two separate runways are available and usable at the destination aerodrome and the appropriate weather reports or forecasts for the destination aerodrome, or any combination thereof, indicate that for the period from one hour before until one hour after the expected time of arrival at the destination aerodrome, the ceiling will be at least 2000 ft or circling height + 500 ft, whichever is greater, and the visibility will be at least 5 km;
or
•the destination aerodrome is isolated.
Selection of two Destination Alternates
An operator must select two destination alternate aerodromes when the appropriate weather reports or forecasts for the destination aerodrome, or any combination thereof, indicate that during a period commencing one hour before and ending one hour after the estimated time of arrival, the weather conditions will be below the applicable planning minima or no meteorological information is available.
Source: EU-OPS
See also:
Fuel Policy (EU-OPS)
Fuel Policy
Company Fuel Policy
Selection of aerodromes