Under 2026 FAA regulations (specifically 14 CFR 91.169), helicopters have different—and often more flexible—alternate airport weather minimums compared to fixed-wing aircraft. For a helicopter to include an airport as an alternate in an IFR flight plan, the weather reports or forecasts must indicate that, at the estimated time of arrival (ETA), the ceiling will be at least 200 feet above the minimum for the approach to be flown, and the visibility must be at least 1 statute mile (but never less than the published minimum visibility for the approach). This is significantly lower than the standard "600-2" (precision) or "800-2" (non-precision) rules for airplanes. Additionally, helicopters have a unique "1-hour rule": an alternate is not required if the weather at the destination is forecast to have at least a 1,000-foot ceiling (or 400 feet above the lowest approach minimum, whichever is higher) and at least 2 miles of visibility for at least one hour after the ETA. These lower minimums reflect the helicopter's ability to fly at slower speeds and land in much tighter, more versatile spaces if an approach is missed.