IFR Alternate Requirement

MJC wrote:

Your plan, then, if you can't make your intended destination if you couldn't
even make your best alternate (that you don't want to file for)?

MJC

A few theoretical answers...

1. You might be able to make an alternate that would not qualify,
strictly speaking, under the rules as an alternate...say a private turf
airport 1 mile away from the intended destination. To file an alternate
that *would* qualify would require extra fuel that may not be desirable
or even necessary.

2. It might be CAVU everywhere in the world and you do not see the point
to filing an alternate that would require carrying the extra fuel and
doing the extra planning.

3.I might file an alternate, then decide to use some other alternate
which wasn't planned for. However, the fuel requirements to get to the
filed alternate and 45 minutes beyond would still be in effect.

4.I might be in a helicopter and not realistically need an alternate.

5.I might be in a float plane and use some known lake as a backup.


I hope you realize that all the above is just theoretical with a partial
tongue in cheek. Personally, I always file a legal alternate. I just
thought there might be situations where, for whatever reason, one might
not wish to.


Antonio

Antoñio wrote in
:

4.I might be in a helicopter and not realistically need an alternate.

Helicopters have the same alternate requirements as fixed-wing, except
that they only require fuel for 30 minutes after the alternate. Lack of
range does mean that a helicopter pilot has to plan very carefully,
though.

--
Regards,

Stan

"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." B. Franklin