Is an alternate airport required when you file a pop up clearance? If so ATC doesn't seem to ask for one.
The irony is that there is nothing they can do with the info if you give it to them. Even when you file via FSS, your alternate is not transmitted to ATC. The people that are sticklers about this provide the info because it will at least be on tape.
But then the real world issue is.....how would you check the weather for an available alternate? I guess the answer would be....you should be familiar with all available info prior to departure.
In the case I mentioned, there were other circumstances that brought the flight to the FAA's attention. The FAA wanted to punish the guy for some sort of attitude problem and grabbed hold of the one thing they could find.
That is the scenerio in a great many enforcement actions. The actual violation is not the cause of the enforcement action, but what they could make stick.
The FAA dose not have the means much less the desire to go around busting normal law abiding pilots for every minute violation of the FARs. However when you come to thier attention as someone who disregads the rules and/or is unsafe, then they start diging. Normally they don't have to dig very deep before they find something.
I have heard from many ATCers that they don't care if you have filed an alternate, as long as you have one in your mind. Anytime I begin an aproach where the WX in near mins, I tell ATC what my plan is if I have to go missed. That way, as soon as I pop back up everybody is aware of what my plan B is.
Actually, the way I understand it is, the only reason you file an alternate is for radio failure purposes. If you have a radio failure AND you go missed at your destination, now you MUST go to your filed alternate. If you go missed with radios, chances are since your filed alternate will not be where you want to really go, you will not go there.
The FAA dose not have the means much less the desire to go around busting normal law abiding pilots for every minute violation of the FARs. However when you come to thier attention as someone who disregads the rules and/or is unsafe, then they start diging. Normally they don't have to dig very deep before they find something.
I don't think there is any rule that says that if you checked the weather shortly before you lost your radios, and the forecasts indicated that the alternate was well below minimums, that you were required to go there anyway to shoot an approach you knew you know would be unsuccessful.Actually, the way I understand it is, the only reason you file an alternate is for radio failure purposes. If you have a radio failure AND you go missed at your destination, now you MUST go to your filed alternate. If you go missed with radios, chances are since your filed alternate will not be where you want to really go, you will not go there.
I file an alternate any time one is required and for the reason it's required.
how would you check the weather for an available alternate?