Is It OK to Divert?

The ability to divert safely, meaning to a suitable airport with acceptable weather and sufficient fuel is a skill you will be demonstrating during your pilot career, both in training and on a check ride.

Meg Godlewski

Tuesday, October 24, 2023 at 12:23 PM ET

Verified

Weather is one of the most common reasons for pilots to divert to another airport. [Pixabay]

Key Takeaways:

Pilots must be prepared to safely divert to an alternate airport due to unforeseen circumstances such as adverse weather, unexpected fuel consumption, or passenger issues.
Effective flight planning includes identifying suitable diversion airports along the route and noting their pertinent information, rather than solely relying on a GPS "nearest" function which may not account for critical factors like weather or terrain.
The process of diverting involves practical navigation skills, such as using an E6-B or other tools to quickly determine heading, distance, and ground speed to the chosen alternate field.
Having a backup airport in mind is crucial for every flight, not just cross-countries, and demonstrates good aeronautical decision-making, which instructors reinforce from early training stages.

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The best laid plans of mice and men and pilots can go awry. I am speaking here of the need to divert—that is heading to an airport that is not your original destination. The ability to divert safely, meaning to a suitable airport with acceptable weather and sufficient fuel, is a skill you will be demonstrating during your pilot career, both in training and on a check ride.

Why Divert?

There are many reasons to divert, the most common of which is weather. Although you obtained a weather briefing and the forecast was for VFR conditions at the time of your arrival, Mother Nature decided to throw a curveball and now the ceilings are dropping along with the visibility. Or perhaps when you picked up the ATIS or AWOS and noticed the crosswinds or gusts are a bit stronger than you are comfortable with. Or perhaps you have an airsick passenger or that headwind took a bigger bite out of your fuel consumption than anticipated. In all cases the prudent thing to do is divert.