alternate aerodrome

alternate aerodrome

An aerodrome to which an aircraft may proceed when it becomes either impossible or inadvisable to proceed to or land at the intended aerodrome. An alternate aerodrome could be a takeoff alternate, en route alternate, or destination alternate. A takeoff alternate is an aerodrome to which an aircraft can land should this become necessary shortly after takeoff and it is not possible to use the aerodrome of departure. An en route alternate is an aerodrome at which an aircraft would be able to land after experiencing an abnormal or emergency condition in flight. A destination alternate is an aerodrome to which an aircraft may proceed should it become either impossible or inadvisable to land at the intended aerodrome. The aerodrome from which a flight departs may also be an en route or a destination alternate aerodrome for that flight.

An Illustrated Dictionary of Aviation Copyright © 2005 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved