Here in Europe with maybe the most sophisticated regulation, we are allowed to go without alternate if you have 2 independend runways, its approach aids and a certain wx minimum.
All very interesting, however, in FAA-land, this no-alternate policy has been in use for over twenty years.
Nothing new.
However, FAA does indeed require not only an alternate for international flying, it also requires an enhanced reserve fuel requirement, unless operating on a re-release ops plan.
Exception.
Remote airports.
In this case, an island reserve fuel requirement is stipulated (2 hours, at normal cruising airspeed) is mandated.
This is all OLD STUFF...and been in use for MANY years.
It would then appear that JAA/EASA has just discovered same....apparently.
How very odd...
