For filing an alternate, which of the following weather criteria must be forecast?

• A. Ceiling at least 1,500 ft above the lowest circling MDA and visibility at least 3 miles
• B. Ceiling at least 2,000 ft above airport elevation and visibility at least 2 miles
• C. Ceiling at least 1,500 ft above the lowest published minimum or 2,000 ft above airport elevation (whichever is higher), and visibility at least 3 miles or 2 miles more than the lowest applicable minima (whichever is greater)
• D. Wind speed and gusts

Answer: (C)

When planning an alternate, you must be sure the forecast will support an approach and landing there. The forecast minimums use two paths to determine what’s acceptable, and you take the higher value of each to stay safe.

For the ceiling, you compare two options and choose the higher: either 1,500 feet above the lowest published instrument approach minimums for that alternate, or 2,000 feet above the airport elevation. This ensures you have a sufficiently high ceiling no matter which approach minimums apply.

For visibility, you do the same kind of comparison: either 3 miles, or 2 miles more than the lowest applicable approach minimums, whichever is greater. This guarantees adequate visibility even if the lowest minima are unusually low.

This combination—ceiling criterion and visibility criterion, each using the higher of the two referenced values—constitutes the standard alternate weather minimums. It’s why the correct statement requires both parts and why other options that only include one criterion or refer to wind don’t meet the rule.