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Alternate Requirements

Check the forecasts for your route and destination within one hour of your flight. The destination forecast must be valid for 30 minutes before and 60 minutes after your estimated time of arrival. You can only nominate an aerodrome as an alternate aerodrome if the nominated aerodrome doesn’t require an alternate.

Check:

  • Graphical Area Forecasts (GAF)

  • Grid Point Wind and Temperature (GPWT), and

  • Aerodrome Forecast (TAF)

Class G Aerodromes (Uncontrolled)​

Class G Aerodromes (Uncontrolled)Class G Aerodromes (Uncontrolled)

An alternate aerodrome is required if:

  • Cloud below 1,000 ft

  • Visibility less than 3km

Class C Aerodromes (Major) and Class D Aerodromes (Regional)​

Class G Aerodromes (Uncontrolled)Class G Aerodromes (Uncontrolled)

An alternate aerodrome is required if:

  • Cloud below 1,500 ft

  • Visibility less than 8 km

INTER and TEMPO​

An alternate aerodrome is required if your ETA is within 30 minutes of:

  • INTER (30%) or TEMPO (60%) probability of a thunderstorm

  • INTER (30%) or TEMPO (60%) probability of mist, fog, dust or smoke

An alternate aerodrome is not required if you:

  • Are within 50 nautical miles of your departure aerodrome, or

  • Carry enough fuel to hold for:

    • 30 minutes when the forecast is INTER (30%)

    • 60 minutes when the forecast is TEMPO (60%)