If the destination does not have an instrument approach you must pick an
alternate.

If the destination has an instrument approach, then you don't need an
alternate unless the the weather is worse than 2000' ceiling or 3SM vis
+/1hr of the ETA. (ie if the forecast is worse than VFR then you need an
alternate).

You can't pick any airports as an alternate. Only a few airports qualify
as an alternate.



"Mike W." wrote in
:

OK I picked this topic after reading through the 'flying to
hamvention'' thread. Being a non-instrument rated private pilot, not
sure what constitutes a 'legal' alternate airport. If VFR, weather
minimums must be met just to get there. If IFR, I assume there is
visibility minimum (decision height?) that could cause a plane to not
be able to land using ILS or whatever. So what is the process for
choosing an alternate?