When you commit the aircraft to entering cloud, you have to get out of that cloud, and that is legally planned in two ways:
a) Descend to the LSALT, and become visual for a visual landing. Allow a 500' buffer to the forecast cloud base on the Area Forecast for the trigger to plan an alternate, or,
b) Descent to the minima of an IAP and become visual for landing (straight-in or circling). Allow a 500' buffer to the circling minima (and 2km to the vis) for the trigger to plan an alternate.
Unlike Europe, there's no (required) consideration for multiple runway availability.
If VFR, you have to fly a 1000' circuit - so add 500' to that to trigger your Alternate planning.
Fairly simple, eh?
Last edited by Checkboard; 27th Oct 2020 at 14:49.