Which statement about alternate aerodrome navigation aids is true?

Which statement about alternate aerodrome navigation aids is true?

• A. The required navigation aid must be operational.
• B. The navigation aid may be non-operational.
• C. The airplane must carry a backup GPS.
• D. The alternate aerodrome must have an ILS category II.

Answer: (A)

When planning an alternate, you must be able to rely on the instrument navigation needed to approach and land there. That means the required navigation aid for the approach to the alternate must be operational when you plan to use that alternate. If the nav aid is out of service, the alternate isn’t viable because you wouldn’t have the dependable guidance needed to complete the approach safely. This isn’t about carrying a backup GPS or about the alternate needing an ILS category II approach. A backup GPS isn’t a universal requirement, and an alternate can be based on different types of instrument approaches as long as the necessary nav aid is operational.

When planning an alternate, you must be able to rely on the instrument navigation needed to approach and land there. That means the required navigation aid for the approach to the alternate must be operational when you plan to use that alternate. If the nav aid is out of service, the alternate isn’t viable because you wouldn’t have the dependable guidance needed to complete the approach safely.

This isn’t about carrying a backup GPS or about the alternate needing an ILS category II approach. A backup GPS isn’t a universal requirement, and an alternate can be based on different types of instrument approaches as long as the necessary nav aid is operational.