Introduction
Departure Alternate Planning is required for commercial airline operations. It considers the scenario where an engine fails and the aircraft is unable to return to its departure airport. In this case, the planner usually considers flying for 60 minutes at current loading to find a suitable alternate airport.
The RocketRoute system performs this calculation based on Single Engine performance and draws a range ring to help identify suitable airports.
Step 1. Set the endurance of a single-engine flight
- Sign in to RocketRoute Link
- In the top menu click MORE, select ACCOUNT AND SETTINGS
Click MORE, select ACCOUNT AND SETTINGS.
- Expand the Flight Log section
- Enter the endurance you would like to use for planning purposes. By default, this is set to 60 minutes.
- Click Save.
Set the departure alternate range ring value.
Note: Please check your aircraft performance profile is set to Advanced and that you have a complete profile, with Single Engine performance completed.
To check the aircraft settings go to:
- Top menu, click MORE > AIRCRAFT
- Select the aircraft whose settings should be inspected
- Open the Fuel & Performance section
- Confirm the 'Template' is turned to 'Advanced'
Fuel and performance, the Advanced template.
View/Edit button allows you to check the available advanced data for an aircraft.
Check if the aircraft has the Single Engine performance data uploaded.
Step 2. Create a route and tick Use Alternate 1 as Departure Alternate
Create a flight as you would normally do in RocketRoute.
- Scroll down to the SID/STAR & Alternates Section.
- Tick the option Use Alternate 1 as Departure Alternate.
- A circle will be drawn showing the range that can be flown within 60 minutes based on your Single Engine performance for your given load at maximum Flight Level. In the example provided it is 60 minutes.
Put a tick Use Alternate 1 as Departure Alternate. A circle showing a 60-minute range is drawn.
You can then turn on airports in the right-hand side Settings bar and select a suitable alternate.
Activate IFR airports to choose a departure alternate on the map.
Select Alternate 1 (Departure Alternate) and click 'Autoroute'.
Once this is completed, press the Autoroute, Save, or Next buttons to proceed with completing the flight plan.
Note: You will only be able to use the Departure Alternate function in case you are flying a twin-engine aircraft type. If you are flying a single-engine aircraft, Alternate 1 and Alternate 2 will be considered only as destination alternate airports.
Briefing Pack
The Single Engine Range Ring will also be included in your Briefing Pack together with the alternates selected. This will help inform the Crew and provide a record of your flight planning.
60-minute range ring on a wind chart in a briefing pack.