(a) Information required. Unless otherwise 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
procedure to, or a special instrument approach 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 arrival, 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 airport 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 minima. Unless otherwise
authorized by the Administrator, no person may include an alternate
airport in an IFR flight plan unless appropriate weather reports or
weather forecasts, or a combination of them, indicate that, at the
estimated time of arrival at the alternate airport, the ceiling and
visibility at that airport will be at or above the following weather
minima:
(1) If an instrument approach procedure 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 specified the following
standard approach minima:
(A) For a precision approach procedure. Ceiling 600 feet and
visibility 2 statute miles.
(B) For a nonprecision approach procedure. 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 procedure 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 command, upon canceling or completing the flight under the flight
plan, shall notify an FAA Flight Service Station or ATC facility.