14 CFR · Part 121
14 CFR § 121.617
Alternate airport for departure.
If the weather conditions at the airport of takeoff are below the landing minimums in the certificate holder's operations specifications for that airport, no person may dispatch or release an aircraft from that airport unless the dispatch or flight release specifies an alternate airport located within the following distances from the airport of takeoff:
Aircraft having two engines. Not more than one hour from the departure airport at normal cruising speed in still air with one engine inoperative.
Aircraft having three or more engines. Not more than two hours from the departure airport at normal cruising speed in still air with one engine inoperative.
For the purpose of paragraph (a) of this section, the alternate airport weather conditions must meet the requirements of the certificate holder's operations specifications.
No person may dispatch or release an aircraft from an airport unless he lists each required alternate airport in the dispatch or flight release.
Referenced By
Interpretations of This Section (1)
Information for Operators (InFO) (1)
Documents that cite this section, found in their catalog metadata or text. Listed by date, not by significance.
Reflects the eCFR edition current as of September 29, 2026. Retrieved from ecfr.gov on October 16, 2026.
Primary Source