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alexious85
1st Sep 2014, 06:24
Hello
I would like to clarify the term "applicable" vs "planning" minima as they are used in the context of nominating alternate airports.
Here are the 2 paragraphs from EU-OPS I am trying to compare:
A. "The Commander shall select a Destination / En-route Alternate aerodrome when the appropriate weather reports 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 minima as follows :
1. The RVR specified in accordance with EU-OPS 1.430.
2. For Non-precision or Circling approach, the ceiling is at or above MDA"

B. "For any IFR flight two destination alternates must be selected when :
1. The appropriate weather reports or forecasts for the destination, or any combination thereof, indicate that during a period commencing 1 hour before and ending 1 hour after the estimated time of arrival, the weather conditions will be below the applicable planning minima.
The planning minima for an En-route or destination alternate are as follows :
Type of approach Planning minima
Cat II / III : Cat I : (note 1)
Cat I : Non-Precision (Note 1, 2)
Non-Precision : Non-Precision (Note 1, 2) plus 200 ft / 1000 m
Circling : Circling"

So just to get it right : case A : if you are going to an airport and the weather seems to be within the minima of whatever procedure is offered then you only need to nominate one airport .
In the second case I am confused as to when you need to nominate 2 alternates .... Can you please explain with some examples ?

airwaygill
14th Sep 2014, 10:00
A destination forecasting this kind of conditions requires 2 destination alternates to be nominated for a flight to be legally dispatched there if ETA was anything between 0500Z and 0800Z:
TAF EBLG 140530Z 1406/1512 04006KT 2000 BR BKN003
TEMPO 1406/1407 0100 FG BKN001

EBLG offers CAT III approach with requirement of 125m RVR, a condition which is not fulfilled at time of ETA --> select 2 destination alternates!

FlightDetent
14th Sep 2014, 12:00
Alexious: This is a point of view I learned from a seasoned dispatcher.

Normally, you need an alterante. Before dispatch - in the planning phase - the predicted destination WX needs to look good: better than what you actually need to shoot for approach.

If the above condition is not met, i.e the forecast is good enough for you to fly but does not comply with the "planning minima" requirement, you still can go provided that you comply with other regulatory provisions. 2x alternate and such.

All in sync with whot you quote.

Respectfully,
FD.