G'day all, AIP states that:

"57.4.6 An alternate aerodrome nominated in accordance with the requirements in paragraph 57.4.2. and
57.4.3 need not have standby power or standby portable runway lighting."

Bob Tait's IREX book version June 2010 states that 'the alternate you choose can be PAL operated and need not have standby power or any person in attendance for your arrival providing that: you have 2 VHF or 1 VHF, 1 HF and 30 minutes holding fuel. Bob Taits book does not say your lighting based alternate does not need PTBL lights as well. The above AIP reference does state this.

If you are using the option of having '1 VHF and 1 HF with 30 minutes holding fuel' is the idea to use the HF to call Flight Services, who will then contact the airfield management and get someone to turn the lights on for you?

If the alternate airfield has a power failure and there are not PTBL lights OR stby power, you will be up the creek without a paddle.

Is it true to state that: your lighing based alternate does not need, stby power, a responsible person (this makes sense as you have either a second radio or 30 mins holding for someone to turn them on) AND no PTBL lighting.

Eternally confused by this one!

There are two possibilities that are considered for aerodrome lighting;
1 The power could fail.
2 The switch could fail.
Firstly it must be said that no amount of rules and regulations can make aviation [or any other activity] 100% safe. It is a possibility that you could have a simultaneous failure of the mains power and the standby power as well. That is considered such a remote possibility that it is regarded as an acceptable risk. Likewise, you could have a simultaneous failure of your alternator and battery, leaving you with no electrical power and no radios at all. Again that is accepted as an acceptable risk.

If power is the problem, and you have nominated an alternate aerodrome, you are effectively giving yourself standby power, since it is an acceptable risk that both the destination and the alternate could suffer a simultaneous power failure.

Also if the switch is the problem, 2 x VHF radios or 1 x VHF, 1 x HF and 30 minutes holding would cover you for a failure of either the ground-based switch or your airborne radio failing.

Any aerodrome with portable lighting and a person in attendance, automatically qualifies as a destination or an alternate because in that case there is no problem with power failure or switch failure.

G'day Bob, thanks very much for that. Have a good day!