In Case 1 scenario for Flight Planning for Alternates, what is the required alternate minimum when destination ETA +/- 1 hr is 0-0 up to but not including published mins (not less than 200-½)?

In Case 1 scenario for Flight Planning for Alternates, what is the required alternate minimum when destination ETA +/- 1 hr is 0-0 up to but not including published mins (not less than 200-½)?

• A. 3,000-3 or better for ETA +/- 1 hr
• B. 200-½ for ETA +/- 1 hr
• C. 0-0 for ETA +/- 1 hr
• D. 3,000-2 for ETA +/- 1 hr

Answer: (A)

Think about what you need for an alternate. When you plan an alternate, you must be sure there’s a field you can actually land at if something goes wrong with the destination. In Case 1, if the forecast at destination for the moment you expect to arrive (ETA plus or minus one hour) is better than the published minimums but not worse than them—that is, you’re looking at 0-0 up to but not including the published minimums, and those published minimums aren’t lower than 200-½—then the required alternate weather minimum is a standard safety buffer: 3,000 feet of ceiling and 3 miles of visibility, or better. This ensures there’s a viable alternate regardless of small changes in conditions. So the best match is 3,000-3 or better for ETA +/- 1 hour, because it reflects that Case 1 rule and provides a practical, common minimum for planning an alternate. The other options don’t fit this scenario: 200-½ would be lower than the Case 1 buffer, 0-0 isn’t a usable alternate minimum, and 3,000-2 represents a different scenario not described here.

Think about what you need for an alternate. When you plan an alternate, you must be sure there’s a field you can actually land at if something goes wrong with the destination. In Case 1, if the forecast at destination for the moment you expect to arrive (ETA plus or minus one hour) is better than the published minimums but not worse than them—that is, you’re looking at 0-0 up to but not including the published minimums, and those published minimums aren’t lower than 200-½—then the required alternate weather minimum is a standard safety buffer: 3,000 feet of ceiling and 3 miles of visibility, or better. This ensures there’s a viable alternate regardless of small changes in conditions.

So the best match is 3,000-3 or better for ETA +/- 1 hour, because it reflects that Case 1 rule and provides a practical, common minimum for planning an alternate. The other options don’t fit this scenario: 200-½ would be lower than the Case 1 buffer, 0-0 isn’t a usable alternate minimum, and 3,000-2 represents a different scenario not described here.