When is an alternate airport required in Latitude planning?

• A. Always required regardless of conditions.
• B. When forecast destination conditions or required minima indicate that a safe landing cannot be assured at the destination, an alternate is required per policy.
• C. Only when requested by pilot.
• D. Never required for short domestic flights.

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that an alternate airport is required when you cannot be confident of landing safely at the destination based on the forecasted conditions and your landing minima. In Latitude planning, you assess the destination’s forecast weather (ceiling, visibility, winds, runway conditions, and any NOTAMs) and the approach minimums you would use. If those factors suggest you might not be able to land safely at the destination, you must designate an alternate airport that meets the same safety criteria and ensure you have enough fuel to reach it with reserves. If you’re confident the destination will meet safe-landing criteria for the planned approach, then no alternate is needed. This isn’t about always or never having an alternate; it’s about whether safe landing at the destination can be assured under the expected conditions.