FAR 135 alternate and landing minimums question??

[veneratio]

I am confused a little bit about 135 takeoff, approach, and landing minimums.

1. I have a filed IFR flight plan to an airport that does not have weather reporting. Under 135 rules, since the destination does not have weather reporting, then I need to file an alternate.

On my descend, I can tell that the weather is low, but not sure exactly what the ceiling and vis is since there is no weather reporting at my destination. Can I legally accept a vector and begin an approach or do I have to go to my alternate?

From what I understand, is that I can't land at that field IFR, (visual approach, part 97 approach, etc) the only way I can land at my destination that does not have weather reporting is if I can visually see the field and cancel IFR and land VFR?

Someone please clear this up for me...

 

[FN FAL]

...the only way I can land at [a] destination that does not have weather reporting is if I can visually see the field and cancel IFR and land VFR?

You can cancel IFR anytime you want, if your 135 manual or company policy doesn't prohibit it.

 

[Dr Pokenhiemer]

It's been a while since I flew Part 135, but I believe I had a flight into DED (Deland, Fl) on a low IFR day. Either they didn't report or the weather reporting was inop--don't remember that. ATC could clear us down to the lowest vectoring atlitude for that area and we could try for the visual at DED. Monitoring the weather at other airports around the area, I decided to divret to Daytona Beach before trying to get into DED. Turns out that was a good thing to do because Tab Express had closed their doors that day so we couldn't have gotten any fuel anyway. But I digress...

 

[CFIcare]

I'm fairly certain that you can't plan fly into an airport under 135 at all unless there is weather reporting...as in ATIS, AWOS, or a "qualified observer". You have to file an alternate under the 1-2-3 rule.

 

[Dr Pokenhiemer]

Seeems like there was an exception in our ops specs that as long as there was weather reporting within so many miles, you could still file to that airport. Like I said, it's been a while and I'd have to go look that up.

 

[pilotyip]

Unless you are authorized for "Eligible On-demand Ops" in your Op Specs, you must have wx to start the approach at a 135 destination.

 

[veneratio]

Unless you are authorized for "Eligible On-demand Ops" in your Op Specs, you must have wx to start the approach at a 135 destination.

thanks for clearing it up, but im still not sure what "eligable on-demand ops" means. I saw it in the regs but i thought that every 135 carrier is eligable to have on demand ops????

 

[Tug Driver]

I took a part 135 checkride with the feds last monday and that "on demand eligable" term messed me up too. I was quickly put in my place by the feds. I don't have the regs in front of me but I believe that it was 135.4 "Eligable, on demand" is defined along the lines of a two pilot crew operating under a type certificate. Thats not me.

We can fly into an airport w/out wx reporting as long as its VFR. Thats our home base. The requirements to file an alt part 135 are slightly different than part 91. Easy reminder for me is 1-3-3. If 1 hour before/after, vis 3 or less, ceiling 3000 or less, I file. There is all this other wording either/or stuff. Then when you do file, the alt A/P weather will vary, pending how many approaches and what type that alt AP has available.

PM me your email and I will email you a quick reference sheet I made up.

 

[mike1mc]

Read FAR 135.4 - you also need to have Ops Spec A057 and meet all the requirements.