When do you need a takeoff alternate?

• A. Always required
• B. When weather is below minimums to come back into the airport you are at
• C. When weather is below minimums at the destination
• D. When the destination weather is above minimums

Answer: (B)

A takeoff alternate is planned because you may need a safe place to land if something prevents you from continuing to the destination after takeoff. The key trigger is when the weather at the departure airport is below the minimums required to land there; if you can’t reliably land back at the airport you’re at, you must have a selectable alternate within reach that meets landing minimums. That’s why the correct idea is: you need a takeoff alternate when the departure weather is below minimums to come back into the airport you are at. The other scenarios describe different situations (destination weather below minimums prompting a destination alternate, or weather conditions unrelated to the takeoff decision), which do not define the takeoff-alternate requirement.