Selection of aerodromes
(a) An operator shall establish procedures for the selection of destination and/or alternate aerodromes in accordance with
OPS 1.220 when planning a flight.
(b) An operator must select and specify in the operational flight plan a take-off alternate aerodrome if it would not be possible
to return to the departure aerodrome for meteorological or performance reasons. The take-off alternate aerodrome,
in relation to the departure aerodrome, shall be located within:
1. for two-engined aeroplanes, either:
(i) one hour flight time at a one-engine-inoperative cruising speed according to the Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM)
in still air standard conditions based on the actual take-off mass; or
(ii) the operator’s approved ETOPS diversion time, subject to any MEL restriction, up to a maximum of two
hours, at the one-engine-inoperative cruising speed according to the AFM in still air standard conditions
based on the actual take-off mass for aeroplanes and crews authorised for ETOPS; or
2. two hours flight time at a one-engine-inoperative cruising speed according to the AFM in still air standard conditions
based on the actual take-off mass for three and four-engined aeroplanes; and
3. if the AFM does not contain a one-engine-inoperative cruising speed, the speed to be used for calculation must be
that which is achieved with the remaining engine(s) set at maximum continuous power.
(c) An operator must select at least one destination alternate for each IFR flight unless:
1. both:
(i) the duration of the planned flight from take-off to landing or, in the event of in-flight re-planning in accordance
with OPS 1.255(d), the remaining flying time to destination does not exceed six hours, and
(ii) two separate runways (see OPS 1.192) are available and usable at the destination aerodrome and the appropriate
weather reports or forecasts for the destination aerodrome, or any combination thereof, indicate that
for the period from one hour before until one hour after the expected time of arrival at the destination aerodrome,
the ceiling will be at least 2 000 ft or circling height + 500 ft, whichever is greater, and the visibility
will be at least 5 km;
or
2. the destination aerodrome is isolated.
(d) An operator must select two destination alternate aerodromes when:
1. the appropriate weather reports or forecasts for the destination aerodrome, or any combination thereof, indicate
that during a period commencing one hour before and ending one hour after the estimated time of arrival, the
weather conditions will be below the applicable planning minima (see OPS 1.297(b)); or
2. no meteorological information is available.
(e) An operator shall specify any required alternate aerodrome(s) in the operational flight plan.
20.9.2008 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 254/37
OPS 1.297
Planning minima for IFR flights
(a) Planning minima for a take-off alternate aerodrome. An operator shall only select an aerodrome as a take-off alternate
aerodrome when the appropriate weather reports or forecasts or any combination thereof indicate that, during a period
commencing one hour before and ending one hour after the estimated time of arrival at the aerodrome, the weather
conditions will be at or above the applicable landing minima specified in accordance with OPS 1.225. The ceiling must
be taken into account when the only approaches available are non-precision and/or circling approaches. Any limitation
related to one-engine-inoperative operations must be taken into account.
(b) Planning minima for a destination aerodrome (except isolated destination aerodromes). An operator shall only select
the destination aerodrome and when:
1. the appropriate weather reports or forecasts, or any combination thereof, indicate that, during a period commencing
one hour before and ending one hour after the estimated time of arrival at the aerodrome, the weather conditions
will be at or above the applicable planning minima as follows:
(i) RVR/visibility specified in accordance with OPS 1.225; and
(ii) For a non-precision approach or a circling approach, the ceiling at or above MDH; or
2. two destination alternate aerodromes are selected under OPS 1.295(d).
(c) Planning minima for a:
destination alternate aerodrome, or
isolated aerodrome, or
3 % ERA aerodrome, or
en-route alternate aerodrome required at the planning stage
An operator shall only select an aerodrome for one of those purposes when the appropriate weather reports or forecasts,
or any combination thereof, indicate that, during a period commencing one hour before and ending one hour
after the estimated time of arrival at the aerodrome, the weather conditions will be at or above the planning minima in
Table 1 below.
Table 1
Planning minima — Destination alternate aerodrome, isolated destination aerodrome, 3 % ERA and en-route
alternate aerodrome
Type of approach Planning minima
Cat II and III Cat I (Note 1)
Cat I Non-precision
(Notes 1 and 2)
Non-precision Non-precision
(Notes 1 and 2) plus
200 ft / 1 000 m
Circling Circling
Note 1 RVR.
Note 2 The ceiling must be at or above the MDH.