Hello, The RCV3 manual, page 78, gives the rationale for choosing alternate airports. The previous page lists the minimum conditions which should exist at any or all of the two or three airports. My question is: Supposed you are on a 12-14 hour trip from Europe to the US West Coast and by arrival time all three of the chosen airports have either CATII or CATIII conditions. A decision has to be made to use one of these three airports as you may not have enough fuel to reach a third alternate. If the above CATII or CATIII conditions now exist why not simply choose the first airport? (I don't have FAR121 available as my FAR-AIM manual does not cover FAR121.) I know our local airport, KPVD, has recently upgraded 5R from a CATII to a CATIIIc. Schedued aircraft do indeed land there even when ceiling is far less than 2000 feet.(I am assuming that all our FS2002 aircraft and crews are qualified for CATIIIc LOW landings.) Would I then be in accordance with FAR121 if I then chose the original airport?Regards

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Thanks for your response. I tend to agree with you that the original destination would be the target if the aircraft, and the crew, are qualified for a CATII or CATIIIx type landing. (I am aware that, under some conditions, Logan, KBOS, will divert incoming European aircraft as far away as Cleveland but these situations are few and far between. As far as FS2002 aircraft being capable of CATIIIx landings I cannot say but go on the assumpton that they can. The only aircraft I know that are qualified are the 747-400 series of aircraft in the IFR Trainer, PS1. Your response is somewhat what I expected. The question was based on the idea of why choose to land at an alternate when you and the aircraft are qualified to land at almost any qualified and suitable airport? Of course, I do not mean to imply that no alternate should be in the plan but that the passenger safety, comfort and airline expense are the prime factors to be considered. Then again I am not sure exactly which of the factors have priority in the real world. I assume safety is No. 1. Thus, in most cases, the primary destination would be chosen. Again I do not have a copy of FAR121 but this practice makes the most sense.Regards