411 - Ops Specs Authorization to dispatch
411A:
From 8400
SECTION 4. PART 121 FLAG OPERATIONS, SUPPLEMENTAL OPERATIONS OUTSIDE THE CONTIGUOUS STATES, AND EXTENDED OVERWATER OPERATIONS
1231. DESTINATION WEATHER MINIMUMS.
Part 121, section 121.615(a) states the following: “No person may dispatch or release an aircraft for a flight that involves extended overwater operation unless appropriate weather reports or forecasts, or any combination thereof, indicate that the weather conditions will be at or above the authorized minimums at the estimated time of arrival (ETA) at any airport to which dispatched or released or to any required alternate.” This regulation has been interpreted by the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Chief Council (AGC) to mean that weather conditions must be forecasted to be above the required minimums at the ETA, but the weather conditions do not necessarily have to be above the required minimums at the time of dispatch or release.
By this statement in 8400 it seems clear that on the basis of 121.615 alone, you may not dispatch to a field Overwater Ops it the forecast WX at ETA is below minimums. I realize that many FARs are superseded by the Ops Specs – case in point – the ETOPS authorization after FAR 121 clearly says you can’t do it.
You state, or imply, that authorization to fly to a destination forecast to be below landing minimums could be granted via Ops Specs. Would the Ops Spec you are referring to be B044. If not, could you advise which Ops Spec could be used for this purpose.
Thanks for your informative reply,
LL