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Nonstandard Alternate Minimums

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Non-standard alternate minimums are published when an approach's "no-light" minimums (using the local altimeter setting) exceed standard alternate minimums (600-2 for precision, 800-2 for non-precision).
  • These non-standard minimums are calculated by adjusting the highest approach minimums for each category, considering inoperative lighting and consulting a terminal procedures publication table.
  • When circling minimums are published, the alternate minimums will never be lower than those circling minimums, applying even to precision approaches.
  • An example illustrates how published circling minimums, along with standard alternate visibility requirements, dictate the final non-standard alternate minimums for different aircraft categories.
See a mistake? Contact us.

The article covered how procedures can be unavailable for alternate planning, but what about those that are available, but require non-standard alternate minimums? The standard alternate minimums are simple: 600-2 for precision approaches, and 800-2 for non-precision approaches. But non-standard alternate minimums can seem quite complicated.

Non-standard alternate ceilings and/or visibilities are published for an approach whenever the no-light approach minimums (using the local altimeter setting) exceed the standard alternate minimums. This makes sense—you wouldn’t want the alternate minimums to lure you to an approach that was below its approach minimums.

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