Destination Alternate Aerodromes

Unless a dispensation has been given by the UK CAA, from the 30 Oct 25, UK registered aircraft must follow these planning rules:

NCO.OP.140 Destination alternate aerodromes — aeroplanes

For IFR flights, the pilot-in-command of an aeroplane must specify at least one destination alternate aerodrome in the flight plan, unless the latest available weather information for the destination, for the period from an hour before the ETA to an hour after the ETA or the period from the actual time of departure to an hour after the ETA, whichever is the shorter, indicates that there will be a ceiling of at least 1000 ft above the DH or MDH for an IAP and a visibility of at least 5000 metres.

NCO.OP.143 Destination alternate aerodromes planning minima – aeroplanes

An aerodrome must not be specified as a destination alternate aerodrome for an aeroplane unless the latest available weather information indicates, for the period from an hour before until an hour after the ETA or the period from the actual time of departure to an hour after the ETA, whichever is the shorter, that:

1. for an alternate aerodrome with an available instrument approach operation with DH less than 250 ft, there will be:
   1. a ceiling of at least 200 ft above the DH or MDH associated with the IAP, and
   2. a visibility of at least 1500 m; or
2. for an alternate aerodrome with an instrument approach operation with DH or MDH 250 ft or more, there will be:
   1. a ceiling of at least 400 ft above the DH or MDH associated with the instrument approach operation; and
   2. a visibility of at least 3000m; or
3. for an alternate aerodrome without an IAP, there will be:
   1. a ceiling of at least the higher of 2000 ft and the minimum safe IFR height; and
   2. a visibility of at least 5000 m.

Usually, EGTK will fall into paragraph 2 above.