In NCO.OP.140, what does 'DH/MDH' stand for and how is it used in the alternate aerodrome exemption?

DH/MDH stands for decision height/minimum descent height. The exemption requires a ceiling of at least 1 000 ft above the DH/MDH for an available instrument approach procedure (IAP).

NCO.OP.140 Destination alternate aerodromes -- aeroplanes

Q: Under NCO.OP.140, when is a destination alternate aerodrome not required for an IFR flight?

A destination alternate aerodrome is not required if the available current meteorological information for the destination indicates, for the period from 1 hour before until 1 hour after the estimated time of arrival, or from the actual time of departure to 1 hour after the estimated time of arrival, whichever is the shorter period, a ceiling of at least 1 000 ft above the DH/MDH for an available instrument approach procedure (IAP) and a visibility of at least 5 000 m.

Q: What specific meteorological conditions must exist at the destination to allow the pilot-in-command to omit a destination alternate aerodrome under NCO.OP.140?

The conditions are: a ceiling of at least 1 000 ft above the DH/MDH for an available instrument approach procedure (IAP) and a visibility of at least 5 000 m, as indicated by available current meteorological information for the destination.

Q: For an IFR flight, what is the pilot-in-command required to specify in the flight plan regarding destination alternates?

The pilot-in-command shall specify at least one destination alternate aerodrome in the flight plan, unless the exception conditions in NCO.OP.140 are met.

Q: What time period is used to evaluate the destination weather for the purpose of the destination alternate aerodrome exemption in NCO.OP.140?

The period is from 1 hour before until 1 hour after the estimated time of arrival, or from the actual time of departure to 1 hour after the estimated time of arrival, whichever is the shorter period.

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NCO.OP.140 Destination alternate aerodromes — aeroplanes

Regulation (EU) 2021/2237

For IFR flights, the pilot-in-command shall specify at least one destination alternate aerodrome in the flight plan, unless the available current meteorological information for the destination indicates, for the period from 1 hour before until 1 hour after the estimated time of arrival, or from the actual time of departure to 1 hour after the estimated time of arrival, whichever is the shorter period, a ceiling of at least 1 000ft above the DH/MDH for an available instrument approach procedure (IAP) and a visibility of at least 5 000m.

Details

Source-Title: NCO.OP.140 Destination alternate aerodromes -- aeroplanes View latest amendments

Erulesid: ERULES-1963177438-13656 Compare versions

Domain: Air operations

Applicabilitydate: 30 October, 2022

Entryintoforcedate: 5 January, 2022

Regulatorysource: Regulation (EU) 2021/2237 Navigate

Regulatorysubject: Part-NCO

Typeofcontent: IR (Implementing rule)

Origin: EASA

Category: EAR