If the destination forecast indicates ceiling 3500 ft and visibility 4 SM, should you file for an alternate?

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Multiple Choice

If the destination forecast indicates ceiling 3500 ft and visibility 4 SM, should you file for an alternate?

The key idea is whether the forecast at the destination meets the standard minimums that allow you to land without an alternate. For planning, if the ETA forecast at the destination has a ceiling of at least 2000 feet and visibility of at least 3 statute miles (and the approach minima you’d use aren’t higher than those), you do not need to file an alternate. Here, the forecast is 3500 feet of ceiling and 4 statute miles of visibility, both well above 2000/3. So you don’t need an alternate based on the destination weather. If the approach minimums at that airport were higher than these values, or the ETA weather were below them, you would have to reconsider and possibly file an alternate.

The key idea is whether the forecast at the destination meets the standard minimums that allow you to land without an alternate. For planning, if the ETA forecast at the destination has a ceiling of at least 2000 feet and visibility of at least 3 statute miles (and the approach minima you’d use aren’t higher than those), you do not need to file an alternate.

Here, the forecast is 3500 feet of ceiling and 4 statute miles of visibility, both well above 2000/3. So you don’t need an alternate based on the destination weather. If the approach minimums at that airport were higher than these values, or the ETA weather were below them, you would have to reconsider and possibly file an alternate.

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