DEPARTURE ALTERNATES

Departure weather:

At or above authorized ceiling & visibility landing minimums.

A departure alternate is: NOT REQUIRED

Below published ceiling but RVR is 16 or greater (vis 1/4 or more).

OR

Below published ceiling but RVR is 12 or greater at the approach end and 10 or greater at the departure end and runway centerline lighting is operational.

NOTE: Must have centerline lighting and dual RVR readouts for both approach and departure ends of runway. If a middle RVR display is installed and operational, RVR required is 10. If 3 transmissometers are installed, all are controlling. If the middle transmissometer fails, operations are not affected if the other 2 RVR readouts are at or above minimums.

Required within 30 min. flight time with wx reported and forecast to be at or above mins. or 200-1/2 (RVR 24) whichever is higher, for 1 hr. after takeoff.

OR

Required within 2 hrs. flight time with existing wx at least 500/1 above approach mins., but no lower than 600/2 for a precision approach or 800/2 for a non-precision approach, and forecast to remain so for one hour after ETA.

NOTE:  Aircraft must be able to maintain MEA or MOCA (whichever is higher) to the alternate if an engine fails. (A/6-6,7)

ARRIVAL ALTERNATES

WHEN TO DESIGNATE AN ALTERNATE:

1. Regardless of Wx, whenever the destination lacks weather reporting capability or requires any of the following to fly the planned approach: RADAR, GPS is the only available navaid, or an unmonitored navaid (F/8-35)

2. When destination is outside the CONUS.  Exception: if destination is remote or an island with no alternate available, add holding fuel; also see special weather requirements in 55-141 for this case. (A/6-7)

3. When the worst weather (intermittent or prevailing), for ETA + 1 hour is forecast to be less than 3000/3SM. or 2 mi. more than the lowest published landing minimum visibility, whichever is greater (F/8-36)

NOTE: Pilots may file to a destination whose forecast includes temporary (Tempo) changes in ceiling and/or visibility that are lower than prescribed above but an alternate may be required. (F/8-34)

File two alternates when:

1. The forecast visibility, prevailing or intermittent, is less than published for an available approach.

2. Forecast surface winds, prevailing or intermittent, exceed limit, corrected for RCR. (A/6-7)

Weather requirements for the alternate:

Wx at the alternate, intermittent or prevailing, ETA + 1 hr, must be at or above 1000/2 or 500/1 above the lowest published landing minimums, whichever is higher. (F/8-36)

Selected alts. should not be restricted by FLIP, FCG, or dip clearances, and should be compatible with the mission load.  A wx alternate does not need to be an AMC base or capable of providing en route mx. (A/6-6)

Obtain final wx briefing. Plan all missions to avoid areas of forecast or known severe wx including icing or severe turbulence. (A/6-7)

Review/sign intel book.

Review transponder settings:

Mode 1  Normal: ,Lantcom: NATO:

Mode 3 Lantcom: 2000 or as in FLIP;

Mode 2  setting for home base:

Mode 4 any mission (trainers & JAATS incl.) that departs home station: required to check out, load (KYK-13 or CYZ-10) & carry. (Complete info. in FCB Part I, pg. 2.)

Authentication documents - for flights into an ADIZ exercises, deployments, specified by ops, overseas msns, nuclear missions (ENAF). (A/6-7)

Certification airfield/filmstrip review?

File flight plan.

(A/Chap 15)

V. RETURN TO THE AIRCRAFT

1. Have copilot(s): Program INS/FSAS, perform avionics pre-flight, check radios, clearance on request, program IFF/mode 4. Do not delay or cancel a mission for an inoperable Mode 4 unless the aircraft will transit an area where safe passage procedures have been implemented (FCB HQ AMC/DOTA)

2. Check on mx status, loading problems