733 

Federal Aviation Administration, DOT 

§ 91.171 

the first airport of intended landing; 
and 

(2) Appropriate weather reports or 

weather forecasts, or a combination of 
them, indicate the following: 

(i) 

For aircraft other than helicopters. 

For at least 1 hour before and for 1 
hour after the estimated time of ar-
rival, the ceiling will be at least 2,000 
feet above the airport elevation and 
the visibility will be at least 3 statute 
miles. 

(ii) 

For helicopters. 

At the estimated 

time of arrival and for 1 hour after the 
estimated time of arrival, the ceiling 
will be at least 1,000 feet above the air-
port elevation, or at least 400 feet 
above the lowest applicable approach 
minima, whichever is higher, and the 
visibility will be at least 2 statute 
miles. 

[Doc. No. 98–4390, 65 FR 3546, Jan. 21, 2000] 

§ 91.169

IFR flight plan: Information 

required. 

(a) 

Information required. 

Unless other-

wise authorized by ATC, each person 
filing an IFR flight plan must include 
in it the following information: 

(1) Information required under § 91.153 

(a) of this part; 

(2) Except as provided in paragraph 

(b) of this section, an alternate airport. 

(b) Paragraph (a)(2) of this section 

does not apply if : 

(1) Part 97 of this chapter prescribes 

a standard instrument approach proce-
dure to, or a special instrument ap-
proach procedure has been issued by 
the Administrator to the operator for, 
the first airport of intended landing; 
and 

(2) Appropriate weather reports or 

weather forecasts, or a combination of 
them, indicate the following: 

(i) 

For aircraft other than helicopters. 

For at least 1 hour before and for 1 
hour after the estimated time of ar-
rival, the ceiling will be at least 2,000 
feet above the airport elevation and 
the visibility will be at least 3 statute 
miles. 

(ii) 

For helicopters. 

At the estimated 

time of arrival and for 1 hour after the 
estimated time of arrival, the ceiling 
will be at least 1,000 feet above the air-
port elevation, or at least 400 feet 
above the lowest applicable approach 
minima, whichever is higher, and the 

visibility will be at least 2 statute 
miles. 

(c) 

IFR alternate airport weather mini-

ma. 

Unless otherwise authorized by the 

Administrator, no person may include 
an alternate airport in an IFR flight 
plan unless appropriate weather re-
ports or weather forecasts, or a com-
bination of them, indicate that, at the 
estimated time of arrival at the alter-
nate airport, the ceiling and visibility 
at that airport will be at or above the 
following weather minima: 

(1) If an instrument approach proce-

dure has been published in part 97 of 
this chapter, or a special instrument 
approach procedure has been issued by 
the Administrator to the operator, for 
that airport, the following minima: 

(i) 

For aircraft other than helicopters: 

The alternate airport minima specified 
in that procedure, or if none are speci-
fied the following standard approach 
minima: 

(A) 

For a precision approach procedure. 

Ceiling 600 feet and visibility 2 statute 
miles. 

(B) 

For a nonprecision approach proce-

dure. 

Ceiling 800 feet and visibility 2 

statute miles. 

(ii) 

For helicopters: 

Ceiling 200 feet 

above the minimum for the approach 
to be flown, and visibility at least 1 
statute mile but never less than the 
minimum visibility for the approach to 
be flown, and 

(2) If no instrument approach proce-

dure has been published in part 97 of 
this chapter and no special instrument 
approach procedure has been issued by 
the Administrator to the operator, for 
the alternate airport, the ceiling and 
visibility minima are those allowing 
descent from the MEA, approach, and 
landing under basic VFR. 

(d) 

Cancellation. 

When a flight plan 

has been activated, the pilot in com-
mand, upon canceling or completing 
the flight under the flight plan, shall 
notify an FAA Flight Service Station 
or ATC facility. 

[Doc. No. 18334, 54 FR 34294, Aug. 18, 1989, as 
amended by Amdt. 91–259, 65 FR 3546, Jan. 21, 
2000] 

§ 91.171

VOR equipment check for IFR 

operations. 

(a) No person may operate a civil air-

craft under IFR using the VOR system 

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