What constitutes a suitable airport?

What constitutes a suitable airport?

• A. The PIC determines this based on all available information.
• B. Airport must be within 50 miles.
• C. Must be a controlled field.
• D. Requires acceptance by dispatcher.

Answer: (A)

The choice reflects that airport suitability is determined by the pilot in command using all information available at the time. The PIC must assess whether the field can safely support the planned flight, considering aircraft performance (weight, fuel, performance charts), current and forecast weather, runway length and surface, available approaches and lighting, and whether instrument approaches exist if weather requires them. Also include NOTAMs, runway availability, potential terrain or obstacle concerns, and any viable alternate options if a diversion becomes necessary. The dispatcher may provide data, but the final decision rests with the PIC, and there isn’t a universal rule that a suitable airport must be within a fixed distance or that it must be a controlled field.

The choice reflects that airport suitability is determined by the pilot in command using all information available at the time. The PIC must assess whether the field can safely support the planned flight, considering aircraft performance (weight, fuel, performance charts), current and forecast weather, runway length and surface, available approaches and lighting, and whether instrument approaches exist if weather requires them. Also include NOTAMs, runway availability, potential terrain or obstacle concerns, and any viable alternate options if a diversion becomes necessary. The dispatcher may provide data, but the final decision rests with the PIC, and there isn’t a universal rule that a suitable airport must be within a fixed distance or that it must be a controlled field.