So, What Are These Terms?
.ETOPS .Extended Operations .En Route Alternate Airports
Wake
Diversion Airports are Essential to Aviation Safety
History – 60 Minute Rule: Not Based on Modern Twins Twin-Engine Restrictions Based on Piston Engine Reliability, circa 1953
Note: Three-engine jets were also restricted to one hour until 1964.
ETOPS –Current Definitions
FAA Definition: "Extended Range Operation with Two-engine Airplanes (ETOPS)" and also referred to as “Extended-range Twin-engine Operations (ETOPS)” Technical-AC120-42A: "For the purpose of this AC, extended range operations are those flights conducted over a route that contain a point further than one hour flying time at the approved one-engine inoperative cruise speed (under standard conditions in still air) from an adequate airport." ETOPS Portion of Flight -That portion of a flight that begins the first moment an aircraft is greater than one hour flying time atthe approved single-engine inoperative cruise speed (under standard conditions in still air) from the nearest adequate airport, and ends the last moment it is greater than one hour from the nearest adequate airport.
ETOPS Has Been in Place for Over 18 Years First FAA Approved ETOPS Flight, 1985
Market Evolution -Pacific ETOPS is Firmly Established in the Pacific
767 Operators Air Caledonie(Aircalin) Air Canada Air China* Air Europa Air New Zealand Air Niugini Air Pacific Air Tours Int'l* All Nippon Airways American Airlnes AnsetAustralia Asiana Airlines Balkan Bulgarian Britannia Airways British Airways Canadian Airlines Int'l Condor* Continental Airlines Delta Airlnes Egyptair* EVA Airways Gulfair* Hawaiian Airlines Japan Airlnes LAN-Chile Airways LaudaAir Lufttransport-Sued* MalevHungarian* North American Airlnes Polynesian Airlines Qantas Airways Royal Brunei Arlines* Trans World Airways United Airlines United Parcel Service VarigAirlines
757 Operators Air 2000 Air Holand American Airlnes American Trans Air Britannia Airways Canda 3000 Airlnes Condor Continental Airlines Monarch Airlines* North American Airlnes Omni Ar International Royal Airlines Royal Brunei Arlines* TAESA Trans World Airlines United Airlines
737 Operators Aircalin Air Nauru Air New Zealand Air Pacific Air Vanuatu Aloha Airlines AnsetAustralia Asiana Airlines China Airlnes Continental Mirconesia Freedom Air Miami Ar Polynesian Airlines Qantas Airways Royal Tongan Airlines Solomon Airlines TACA
777 Operators Air China* All Nippon Airways American Airlnes Asiana Airlines British Airways Cathay Pacific* China Southern Airlines Continental Airlines Egyptair
Emirates* Korean Airlines Japan Airlnes LaudaAir* Malaysian Airline System* Singapore Airlines* Thai Airways* United Airlines
*These operators flew ETOPS only in the Southeast Asia -Australian portion of this map.
ETOPS in the 21stCentury FAA ETOPS Working Group (ARAC) Findings:
For dispatch, the minimum rescue fire fighting capability requirements are as follows: .For ETOPS up to 180 minute diversion length, alternates must have rescue fire fighting capability equivalent to that specified by ICAO Category 4. .For Two-Engine, 207 Minute operations, alternates must have rescue fire fighting capability equivalent to that specified by ICAO Category 4. In addition, at least one adequate airport within the 207 minute diversion time must have rescue fire fighting capability equivalent to that specified by ICAO Category 7. .For all other ETOPS operations beyond 180 minutes, alternates must have rescue fire fighting capability equivalent to that specified by ICAO Category 7. .If the necessary equipment and personnel are not immediately available at the airport, a 30 minute response time is deemed adequate if theinitial notification to respond can be initiated while the diverting aircraft is en route. Such equipment must be available on arrival of the diverting airplane and should remain as long as their services are needed.
Military bases can be used as en route alternates
Typical Policy Statement for Remote US Military Airports: "The US Navy advises that NSF Diego Garcia may be identifed as an Extended Range Twin Engine Operations (ETOPS) emergency landing site (en route alternate) for flight planning purposes. This is consistent with US government policy that an aircraft can land at any US miltary airfeld if the pilot determines there is an in-flight emergency that would make continued flight unsafe. However, as NSF Diego Garcia is a miltary facilty, it s incumbent on aircraft operators to continuously monitor NOTAMS which may temporarily restrict the use of the airfeld, even foremergency diversions. It is imperative that aircraft diverting to NSF Diego Garcia comply fuly with al air defense procedures, as non-compliance could be misconstrued as a hostile act. Further, it s understood there are published criteria for ETOPSairfields, and our policy concerning emergency use is not agreement or certifcation that this airfeld meets those criteria. NSF Diego Garcia is a remote location with resources (accommodations, medical, hangars, crash/fire/rescue, etc) limited to levels essential for support of assigned personnel and the miltary mission. The airfeld is available "as is" for emergency use only as indicated above." -Policy Statement for NSF Diego Garcia, 2002
Remote Airports Play A Key Role In Aviation Safety For All Aircraft Operations
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