When planning for an alternate airfield, what symbol and restrictions would be a dead give away on the approach plate Briefing section that you cannot use it as an alternate airfield?

When planning for an alternate airfield, what symbol and restrictions would be a dead give away on the approach plate Briefing section that you cannot use it as an alternate airfield?

• A. An "A" symbol with "NA" next to it and a "RADAR REQUIRED" restriction
• B. A star symbol with "NA" next to it and a "RADAR OPTIONAL" restriction
• C. A circle symbol with "NA" next to it and a "NO RADAR" restriction
• D. A square symbol with "NA" next to it and a "RADAR REQUIRED" restriction

Answer: (A)

Alternate planning hinges on whether an airport has published alternate minimums. On the approach plate briefing strip, a symbol with NA next to it communicates that alternate minimums are not authorized for that airfield. When that symbol also carries a RADAR REQUIRED restriction, it signals that the approach itself requires radar to be flown. Taken together, this combination clearly shows the airfield cannot be used as an alternate because there are no published alternate minimums and the procedure demands radar. The other symbols and notes either don’t flag the lack of alternate minimums or don’t impose the radar constraint in a way that would disqualify it as an alternate.

Alternate planning hinges on whether an airport has published alternate minimums. On the approach plate briefing strip, a symbol with NA next to it communicates that alternate minimums are not authorized for that airfield. When that symbol also carries a RADAR REQUIRED restriction, it signals that the approach itself requires radar to be flown. Taken together, this combination clearly shows the airfield cannot be used as an alternate because there are no published alternate minimums and the procedure demands radar. The other symbols and notes either don’t flag the lack of alternate minimums or don’t impose the radar constraint in a way that would disqualify it as an alternate.