Originally Posted by
MIKECR
Maybe im stating the obvious here but if this is in reference to an IR skills test then the flight should be treated as a public transport flight(certainly used to be when I did mine, albeit some time ago now). If its still the case then I would be applying the relevant EU Ops criteria to select an appropriate alternate(if required....or even 2 alternates if legally required). Thats perhaps what your examiner was looking to see in your planning and may explain why he said your choice of alternate was wrong.
Which is part of the problem as this is a PPL/IR so he is unlikely to be legally able to do public transport
Not withstanding that, I have never noticed the part of EU OPS that say an alternate must be the closest possible ILS equipped airport to your destination so as to minimise PAX onward bus costs. Both Lydd and Southend seem reasonable alternatives that comply with EU OPS. This feels like any answer Peter gave would be wrong.
Southampton == WRONG, if the weather is below minimum in Bournemouth why do you think it is going to be any better in Southampton.
Lydd == WRONG, its CAVOK at Bournemouth and forecast to be fine at Southampton, why fly to the other side of London when there is a perfectly good alternate right next door.