This data file holds records of information used in the Alternate segment of the Flight Plan program. Files are filtered by the ICAO code for the destination airport, and each can hold up to 30 alternate airports, which can be stored in any order based on company preference or priority
The modes available are:
Add
Edit
Delete
Video
Screen
Hardcopy
Quit
See Alternates Fields for a description of the fields used.
Add Mode
This mode is used to add a record to the file for a destination for which there are presently no alternates on file. If there are already alternates listed for the destination you want, and you want to add more to the list, then you should use the Edit mode.
Destination ICAO: Enter the ICAO, IATA, or FAA code for the destination airport. The program will verify if the selected airport is in the Airports data file. If it is, the program will fill in the name of the airport and position the cursor on the first field of the Alternates table. If an Alternates file already exists for the destination airport you selected, then it will be displayed, along with a Record Already EXISTS prompt.
Alternates Table Fields
Note: The alternate routine will use the first route on file for the destination-alternate city-pair. If none exists, then it will attempt to build an MTTA route. If this fails, the routine will use the Great Circle track and Airways distance from the Alternates file. If a flight level has been specified, then this level will be used for the construction of the MTTA.
Rearranging the Priority of Alternates
Depending on the entry made, the Flight Plan program will display the alternates in the order in which they appear in the file, or it will default to the first in the file. It is recommended that the alternates for each destination be kept in the preferred priority sequence. To change the priority of a particular alternate, move the cursor to the line on which you want the alternate to occupy, and press <Ctrl>-I. This will insert a blank line at this position. Next, enter the Identifier for the station. A warning prompt will appear, indicating that this alternate is already in the table and if you want to switch priorities. If you respond by entering <Y>, the selected alternate will be moved to the new blank line. Entering <N> will permit you to select another station.
Individual alternates may also be deleted by using <Ctrl>-D.
Edit Mode
Entering <E> from the Command Line will put you into Edit mode.
In this mode you may do the following tasks:
change the priority sequence
add more alternates for a destination (up to a maximum of 30),
delete one or more alternates (using <Ctrl D>).
If there are more than 15 alternates for a particular destination, you can move to the second page of an alternates table by using <Ctrl F>.
<Ctrl B> can be used to shift from the second page back to the first.
Once you have completed your edits, you can escape to a confirmation prompt by entering <Ctrl E>.
Delete Mode
Note: Delete mode should only be used when you wish to delete ALL of the alternates associated with a particular destination. In general, delete mode is used in preparation for deletion of the destination from the Airports data file. If you wish to only delete one alternate from record, use the <Ctrl D> function from within the Edit mode.
When you enter the ICAO code for a destination airport, the program will display the table of alternates for that station with a prompt to confirm that you do wish to delete them all. A <Y> response will delete the destination and all of its alternates from the file. A <N> response will clear the screen and re-position the cursor in the Destination ICAO field for entry of another station.
Video Mode
The Video mode will enable you to view a selected Destination and its alternates, and to filter through the data file alphabetically by using the up and down arrow keys. The initial screen displays the blank record, and requests entry of an initial Destination ICAO code. The file is sorted alphabetically by ICAO code of the Destination airport. To enter a new destination, pressing <Enter> will clear the display, and permit you to.
Screen Mode
This mode will allow you to review the Alternate tables for a range of destinations at one time. Entering <S> from the Command Line will retrieve the Report Selector screen, and position the cursor in the first field.
Alternates Fields
The following descriptions represent the typical access and privileges afforded to users designated as Dispatch Managers/Supervisors. Users with dispatcher privileges will have limited access to a subset of the screens presented.
Add Mode
This mode should be used to add a record to the file for a destination where there are presently no alternates on file. If there are already alternates listed for the destination you want, and you want to add more to the list then you should use the Edit mode.
Destination ICAO: Enter the ICAO, IATA, or FAA code for the destination airport. The program will verify whether the selected airport is in the Airports data file, and if it is, the program will fill in the name of the airport and position the cursor on the first field of the Alternates table. If an Alternates file already exists for the destination airport you selected, then it will be displayed, along with a Record Already EXISTS prompt.
Alternates Table Fields
Note: The alternate routine will use the first route on file for the destination-alternate city-pair. If none exists, then it will attempt to build an MTTA route. If this fails, then as a last resort the routine will use the Great Circle track and Airways distance from the Alternates file. If a flight level has been specified, then this level will be used for the construction of the MTTA.
Rearranging the Priority of Alternates
Depending on the entry made, the Flight Plan program will display the alternates in the order in which they appear in the file, or will default to the first in the file. Thus, it is recommended that the alternates for each destination be kept in the preferred priority sequence. To change the priority of a particular alternate, move the cursor to the line which you want that alternate to occupy, and press <Ctrl>-I. This will insert a blank line at this position. Next, enter the Identifier for the station. A warning prompt will appear indicating that this alternate is already in the table, and asking if you want to switch priorities. If you enter <Y>, the selected alternate will be moved to the new blank line. Entering <N> will permit you to select another station. Individual alternates may also be deleted by using <Ctrl>-D.
Edit Mode
Entering <E> from the Command Line will put you into Edit mode. In this mode you may do the following tasks:
change the priority sequence,
add more alternates for a destination (maximum of up to 30),
delete one or more alternates (using <Ctrl D>).
If there are more than 15 alternates for a particular destination, you may move to the second page of an alternates table by using <Ctrl F>. <Ctrl B> can be used to shift from the second page back to the first.
Once you have completed your edits, you may escape to a confirmation prompt by entering <Ctrl E>.
Delete
Note: Delete mode should only be used when you want to delete ALL of the alternates associated with a particular destination. Generally, this mode is used in preparation for deletion of the destination from the Airports data file. If you only wish to delete one alternate from the record, use the <Ctrl D> function from within the Edit mode.
When you enter the ICAO code for a destination airport, the program will display the table of alternates for that station, along with a prompt to confirm that you do wish to delete them all. A <Y> response will delete the destination and all of its alternates from the file, while a <N> response will clear the screen and reposition the cursor in the Destination ICAO field for another station entry.
Note: The following descriptions represent the typical access and privileges afforded to users designated as Dispatch Managers/Supervisors. Users with dispatcher privileges will have limited access to a subset of the screens presented.