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IFR FLIGHT PLANNING / MISSION 14

IFR Alternate Airport Trainer

PART 91 AIRPLANES · FILE? · QUALIFY? · MINIMUMS?

GUIDED ALTERNATE PLANNER

Follow the filing decision from start to finish

Choose an answer to reveal only the next decision that applies.
1 DESTINATION2 FILE?3 ALTERNATE4 GPS5 MINIMUMS

DESTINATION CHECK

CHART SYMBOLS

Do not confuse alternate and takeoff notes

A triangle symbol
A TRIANGLE · ALTERNATE MINIMUMS

This airport or runway has non-standard alternate minimums. Check the Airport Minimums section of the TPP.

T triangle symbol
T TRIANGLE · TAKEOFF MINIMUMS

This airport or runway has non-standard takeoff minimums. Check the TPP’s Takeoff Minimums and Departure Procedures section.

GPS / WAAS ALTERNATE PLANNING REFERENCE

Always verify the aircraft installation, approved flight manual supplement, current NOTAMs, receiver guidance, approach availability, and current FAA guidance.

  • WAAS: A GPS-based IAP may support planning at both the destination and alternate. Plan the alternate using LNAV or circling minima unless approved baro-VNAV or another specific authorization permits a different planning line.
  • Non-WAAS GPS: With qualifying FDE capability and a satisfactory preflight RAIM prediction, a GPS-based IAP may support either the destination or alternate—but not both.
  • If those non-WAAS conditions are not met: The alternate needs an anticipated, operational non-GPS IAP that the aircraft is equipped to fly.
  • An A-triangle restriction, NA notation, unavailable weather reporting, equipment limitation, or NOTAM can still change or prohibit alternate use.

PILOT QUICK REVIEW

Three decisions, kept separate

DESTINATION

Use the 1-2-3 rule to decide whether an alternate must be listed.

NAVIGATION

Determine whether GPS supports the plan, then apply the WAAS or non-WAAS equipment and integrity rules.

ALTERNATE

Verify authorization, approach availability, published restrictions, NOTAMs, and forecast alternate minimums.

SCOPE: Part 91 airplanes. This trainer is educational and does not replace current regulations, charts, NOTAMs, avionics guidance, approved flight-manual supplements, or aircraft procedures.

FREE IFR ALTERNATE AIRPORT PRACTICE

Learn IFR alternate and GPS planning through scenarios

Practice deciding when a Part 91 airplane must list an alternate airport, whether GPS equipment supports the plan, whether a candidate airport is authorized, and which forecast alternate minimums apply. The guided decision path teaches the complete filing and qualification flow one relevant question at a time.

When must you file?

Evaluate the destination forecast from one hour before through one hour after ETA.

Can GPS support the plan?

Apply the WAAS or non-WAAS rules, including FDE, RAIM prediction, and destination-versus-alternate limitations.

Which minimums apply?

Distinguish standard 600-2 and 800-2 planning minimums from published nonstandard requirements.