Diversion and Alternate Aerodrome

Flight planning does not assume the destination will always be available. Weather, congestion, a closed runway, a medical emergency, a technical problem or a security event can all make the planned landing impossible or unwise, so regulations require operators to designate one or more alternate aerodromes and to carry enough fuel to reach a nominated alternate with reserves. The choice of alternate considers its weather, facilities, runway suitability and — importantly for security — whether it lies in a safe and accessible location.

When a diversion is actually executed, the decision is made in real time by the crew in coordination with the operations control centre, weighing the reason for diverting against the suitability of available airfields. A diversion into an unfamiliar or higher-risk location introduces its own considerations, including ground handling, passenger and crew welfare and security on the ground, which is why the security profile of potential alternates matters as much as their technical suitability.

The suitability of diversion options along a route — including their security environment — is part of pre-flight risk. AeroVigil's destination and airport intelligence can inform how operators assess potential alternates, so that a diversion does not exchange one problem for another.