Can you dispatch a flight to an airport if that destination airport is reporting and forecasting below landing minima?

• A. No
• B. Yes, with caution
• C. Only if alternate exists
• D. If you have extra fuel

Answer: (A)

Landing minima define the minimum weather conditions under which an aircraft is considered safe to land. When planning a dispatch, the destination's weather must be at or above these minima at the estimated time of arrival, or there must be an alternate airport that will meet the minima so you can land there if needed. If the destination is reporting and forecast to be below the required minima, there’s no assured place to land safely, so releasing the flight would not meet the safety requirements. Extra fuel or cautious handling don’t change the fundamental rule—you can’t dispatch to a below-minima destination unless an acceptable alternate is planned.