An international flight was dispatched without naming an alternate for landing.

Attributes
ACN	233976
Time
Date	199302
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : nrt
State Reference	FO
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Widebody, Low Wing, 4 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	ground : preflight
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : second officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 2500
ASRS Report	233976
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 150
ASRS Report	234241
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Received an international flight plan from nrt to sfo from dispatcher (company) without an alternate specified. We questioned the absence of an alternate. After consulting the company manual we could not locate the requirements for an alternate. On the return flight from sfo to nrt, we found the requirement for an alternate if flight is scheduled over 6 hours (far 121.62 and 121.645). Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter clarified that the reference is to far 121.621, not 121.62. He said that they then got an amended release showing an alternate. They had sufficient fuel and safety was never compromised.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN INTL FLT WAS DISPATCHED WITHOUT NAMING AN ALTERNATE FOR LNDG.

Narrative: RECEIVED AN INTL FLT PLAN FROM NRT TO SFO FROM DISPATCHER (COMPANY) WITHOUT AN ALTERNATE SPECIFIED. WE QUESTIONED THE ABSENCE OF AN ALTERNATE. AFTER CONSULTING THE COMPANY MANUAL WE COULD NOT LOCATE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR AN ALTERNATE. ON THE RETURN FLT FROM SFO TO NRT, WE FOUND THE REQUIREMENT FOR AN ALTERNATE IF FLT IS SCHEDULED OVER 6 HRS (FAR 121.62 AND 121.645). CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR CLARIFIED THAT THE REF IS TO FAR 121.621, NOT 121.62. HE SAID THAT THEY THEN GOT AN AMENDED RELEASE SHOWING AN ALTERNATE. THEY HAD SUFFICIENT FUEL AND SAFETY WAS NEVER COMPROMISED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.