Couple of questions here!IS it true for fuel planning purposes you do not need to put an alternate airport in if your flight is less than 6hrs??If not then how many alternates do you need? One that is a descent distance from the arrival airport as fog or whatever maybe in that whole area? How do people normally calculate this?In the 737-700 how much fuel at low altitudes does the 737 burn per hour? Any real world pilots know this one? Just trying to do some planning you see!!What cruise speed does the 700 series cruise at in TAS/ KIAS??I think that is it for now!!Thanks in advanceMark P

Domestic Operations:No alternate required if ceiling at +/- 1 hour ETA is equal or greater than 2,000 feet and equal or vis greater than 3 miles. Alternate is required if 40% or greater TRW is forecast, possible runway closing due to icing or the no alternate conditions of C & V are not met.International Operations:For 6 hours or less if weather +/- 1 hour ETA meets "good" criteria (probably as noted above) then alternate is not required. If an alternate is required but not within the usual alternate distance it can be within two hours fuel burn plus procedures of destination. Flights over six hours require an alternate.I won't go into details of definitions of marginal weather but if your alternate is marginal then you need yet another alternate.Just read this tonight after receiving Mike Ray's New Pilot Stuff book on flying rules described at www.utem.com.

As far as cruise stats etc., i believe your manual has some info..but if not, go to www.boeing.com. They have great technical data on each craft they make, as well as some planes no longer in production.

Another source of tech data and procedures is www.b737.org.uk.