If a flight must divert to its alternate, what weather minimums apply?

• A. Approach plate minimums
• B. Takeoff minimums
• C. Destination minimums
• D. Alternate minimums

Answer: (A)

When you divert to the alternate, you must be able to land there using an instrument approach, so the weather minimums you use are the instrument approach minimums published for that alternate airport. Those minimums define the lowest ceiling and visibility required to execute the chosen approach and complete the landing, guiding whether current weather allows a safe landing at the alternate. Takeoff minimums and the original destination minimums don’t apply to the landing decision after a diversion, and alternate minimums are planning criteria used to determine if the alternate is suitable in your IFR flight plan, not the actual weather you must meet to land.