Under NCO.OP.141, what is the minimum visibility required at the destination to avoid planning a destination alternate for a helicopter IFR flight?

The minimum visibility required is at least 3 000 m.

Under NCO.OP.141, what is the minimum ceiling required above the DH/MDH to avoid planning a destination alternate for a helicopter IFR flight?

The ceiling must be at least 1 000 ft above the DH/MDH for an available IAP.

NCO.OP.141 Destination alternate aerodromes -- helicopters

Q: For IFR helicopter flights, when is the pilot-in-command NOT required to specify a destination alternate aerodrome in the flight plan?

The pilot-in-command is not required to specify a destination alternate aerodrome 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 IAP and a visibility of at least 3 000 m.

Q: What are the specific weather minima that allow a helicopter IFR flight to omit a destination alternate aerodrome?

The weather minima are a ceiling of at least 1 000 ft above the DH/MDH for an available IAP and a visibility of at least 3 000 m.

Q: For a helicopter IFR flight, what is the exact time window used to evaluate the weather at the destination to decide if a destination alternate is required?

The time window 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.141 Destination alternate aerodromes — helicopters

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 IAP and a visibility of at least 3 000m.

Details

Source-Title: NCO.OP.141 Destination alternate aerodromes -- helicopters View latest amendments

Erulesid: ERULES-1963177438-13660 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