In flight fuel planning, what is the purpose of the alternate requirement?

• A. An alternate destination that can be used if the primary destination is unavailable.
• B. Extra fuel to be used only for holding.
• C. Destination that can be used as an alternate if the primary is unavailable.
• D. A requirement to land at any airport with the same performance.

Answer: (C)

In flight planning, you must identify a fallback landing place in case the chosen destination becomes unavailable. This backup site, an alternate aerodrome, is selected to be suitable for the aircraft and reachable within a reasonable distance, with adequate weather minima and services. The purpose is to ensure a safe diversion option is preplanned, not to dictate extra fuel for holding or to allow landing at any airport without regard to suitability. So the correct choice captures this idea: a destination that can be used as an alternate if the primary is unavailable.