Holding and Alternate Minima Flashcards
When must a pilot plan for an alternate aerodrome?
Fortunately, Alternates Could Very Well PProve Life Savers (FACVWPPLS)
F - Forecasts: If TAF not available for an IFR flight to a destination with an IAP.
A - AIDS: BY NIGHT unless the destination has at least 1 IAP that pilot/aircraft is able to conduct
C - CLOUD: >SCT below the alternate minima;
V - Visibility: < than the alternate minima;
W - Wind: crosswind or tailwind component more than the maximum the for the aircraft
P - PROB: PROB 30 or more of TS or weather phenomena decreasing viz below alternate minima (i.e. FOG, MIST, Dust, etc).
P - PROVISIONAL: Provisional TAF that is required for the flight.
L - LIGHTING: a flight at night that doesn’t have electrical lighting (LIRL/MIRL/HIRL, not PAL) with STBY power unless:
1. Responsible person + PTBL lighting;
2. Responsible person + PAL with STBY; or
3. Fuel to hold until 1st light + 10 mins.
S - STORMS: Thunderstorms.
REF: AIP ENR 1.1, 10.7.2.1 & 10.7.2.3 – Weather conditions
REF: AIP ENR 1.1, 10.7.3.1, AIP GEN 1.5, 2.1 - Radio Navigation Systems
When conditions deteriorate temporarily i.e. INTER / TEMPO, when is an alternate not required?
Temporary deteriorations in weather below values for alternate requirements are OK if sufficient additional fuel is carried.
If Thunderstorms or their probability is forecast at the destination it is OK to proceed to alternate or to hold for:
* Intermitted deteriorations – INTER – 30 min
* Temporary deteriorations – TEMPO – 60 min.
When multiple INTER, TEMPO periods – holding is only required for the most limiting – not cumulative.
The additional fuel required must be carried when the ETA of the aircraft at the destination or the alternate falls within 30 minutes before the forecast commencement time and 30 minutes after cessation of the deteriorations. The aircraft need only carry sufficient fuel to hold 30 minutes after the forecast cessation time.
REF: AIP ENR 1.1, 110.7.2.4, 10.7.2.5, 10.7.2.6, 10.7.2.8 - Weather Conditions
If the aircraft navigation is to be conducted using a GNSS receiver certified only to (E)TSO 129, what additional requirements are to be met?
Navigation to a destination alternate aerodrome must be planned using a navigation system other than GNSS
Conventional Navaid
REF: AIP ENR 1.1, 10.7.3.3 - Radio Navigation Systems
Can the destination have PAL and there not be a alternate required?
Yes, if:
1. PAL with STBY and responsible person for switching; or
2. PAL without STBY but PTBL and responsible person to display; or
3. Fuel to hold until 1st light + 10 mins.
REF: AIP ENR 1.1, 10.7.4 - Runway Lighting
Does an alternate require STBY power?
An alternate aerodrome with electrical lighting (either permanent or PAL) need not have standby power or standby portable lights.
REF: AIP ENR 1.1, 10.7.4 - Runway Lighting
Can an alternate have PAL? Are there any additional requirements?
If alternate has PAL a responsible person is not required as long as the aircraft is fitted with dual VHF or one VHF and one HF with 30 min of holding fuel.
REF: AIP ENR 1.1, 10.7.4 - Runway Lighting
What is the definition of a responsible person?
A responsible person is one who has been instructed in and is competent to display the standard runway lighting with portable lights.
REF: AIP ENR 1.1, 10.7.4 - Runway Lighting
For what period, must a pilot ensure runway lighting (which is not PAL) is operating?
Q: For what period, must a pilot ensure runway lighting (which is not PAL) is operating?
When aerodrome lighting is required and PAL is not being used the pilot or operator must arrange lighting operation as follows:
1. Departure – from 10 min before ETD to at least 30 min after take-off
2. Arrivals – at least 30 min before ETA to completion of taxiing.
REF: AIP ENR 1.1, 11.8.3.1 - Aerodrome Lighting
Aerodrome lighting required for take-off and landing?
Unless otherwise approved an aircraft must not take off or land at an aerodrome at night unless the following lighting is operating:
1. Runway edge lighting;
2. Threshold lighting;
3. Illuminated wind direction indicator; and
4. Obstacle lighting (where specified in local procedures).
If wind direction indicator lighting is not available, the aircraft can continue to operate if wind velocity information can be obtained from an authorised weather report.
REF: AIP ENR 1.1, 10.8.1.1 - Suitability of Aerodromes General & Part 91 AMC 91.410 Use of Aerodromes
For an IFR flight, what is the alternate minima for aerodrome without an instrument approach?
- Day only – Aerodromes without an instrument approach procedure, or has an IAP but the pilot is unable to conduct that procedure, the alternate minima is the LSALT + 500 ft (Final segment) and a visibility of 8km; or
- Night – If the planned destination aerodrome for an IFR flight by night does not have any IAP, or any IAP that the pilot can conduct, the flight must be planned for a destination alternate aerodrome. The destination alternate aerodrome must have an IAP that the pilot is able to conduct.
NOTE: The aircraft must also be navigated in accordance with ‘Flight under the IFR’ requirements
REF: AIP ENR 1.1, 10.7.2.10 - Weather Conditions & AIP ENR 1.1-4.1- Navigation Requirements – Flight Under The IFR
What is the alternate minima for VFR Helicopters?
- For helicopters at night and by day unless helicopter VMC is permissible at the destination, the VFR alternate minima is 1500ft and a visibility of 8km; or
- When operating a helicopter under the VFR by day only, and the use of helicopter VMC* is permissible at the destination, the VFR alternate minima is:
a. Cloud – more than SCT below a ceiling of 1000ft: or
b. Visibility less than 3000m
Note: BOSA does not allow the use of helicopter VMC offshore.*
REF: AIP ENR 1.1, 10.7.2.2 - Weather Conditions & OMA 8.1.7.1 - VFR Flights Offshore
REF: AIP ENR 1.1, 10.7.2.11 - Weather Conditions
When must a VFR at night flight provide an alternate aerodrome DUE NAVAIDS?
A NVFR flight must have an alternate within 1 hour’s flight time unless:
- The destination has a ground based radio NAV aid (NDB/VOR) and the aircraft is fitted with the appropriate NAV system and the pilot is suitably qualified and current; or
- The aircraft is fitted with approved GNSS receiver and both the pilot and aircraft meet the requirements (Data integrity + Currency).
REF: AIP ENR 1.1, 10.7.3.2 - Radio Navigation Aid
Can any aerodrome be used as an alternate aerodrome?
When a flight is required to provide for an alternate aerodrome, any aerodrome may be so nominated for that flight provided:
1. It is suitable as a destination for that flight
2. Is not an aerodrome for which that flight would require to provide for an alternate aerodrome; and
3. Is not a helideck.
REF: AIP ENR 1.1, 10.7.1.2 – Alternate Aerodromes
