Extended Range Operation with Two-Engine Airplanes (ETOPS)
For detailed information view the original FAA source here.
Background information
This advisory circular (AC) provides certificate holders with guidance for obtaining operational approval to conduct Extended Operations (ETOPS) under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 121, § 121.161. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) may authorize ETOPS with two-engine airplanes over a route that contains a point farther than 60 minutes flying time from an adequate airport at an approved one-engine inoperative cruise speed under standard conditions in still air (adequate airport is defined in part 121, § 121.7 and Appendix 1 of this AC). The FAA may also authorize ETOPS with passenger-carrying airplanes with more than two engines over a route that contains a point farther than 180 minutes flying time from an adequate airport at an approved one-engine inoperative cruise speed under standard conditions in still air. This AC provides guidance for obtaining authorization to conduct operations under part 121 in Polar Areas as well.
This AC provides an acceptable means of complying with the regulations; however, it is not the only means of compliance. When this AC uses mandatory language (e.g., “must” or “may not”) it is quoting or paraphrasing a regulatory requirement or prohibition. When this AC uses permissive language (e.g., “should” or “may”), it describes an acceptable means, but not the only means, of obtaining operational approval to conduct ETOPS under § 121.161 of the regulations.
200. ETOPS REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS.
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All two-engine airplanes and three- and four-engine passenger-carrying airplanes
operated under part 121 are required to comply with § 121.161. This regulation imposes special
requirements for ETOPS for these airplanes. These operations are defined as:
- Two-Engine Airplanes. These are flights whose planned routing contains a point farther than 60 minutes flying time from an adequate airport at an approved one-engine inoperative cruise speed under standard conditions in still air.
- Passenger-Carrying Airplanes with More Than Two Engines. These are flights whose planned routing contains a point farther than 180 minutes flying time from an adequate airport at an approved one-engine inoperative cruise speed under standard conditions in still air.
- To conduct ETOPS, the specified airplane-engine combination must be certificated to the airworthiness standards of transport-category airplanes and be approved for ETOPS. Airplane certification guidance for ETOPS can be found in §§ 121.162 and 25.1535. As with all other operations, a certificate holder requesting any route approval must first show that it is able to satisfactorily conduct operations between each required airport as defined for that route or route segment, and any required en route alternate airport. Certificate holders must show that the facilities and services specified in §§ 121.97 through 121.107 (domestic and flag operations) and §§ 121.113 through 121.127 (supplemental and commercial operations) are available and adequate for the proposed operation. In addition, the certificate holder must be approved for ETOPS under part 121. This AC provides the additional guidance for certificate holder approval for ETOPS.
ETOPS Regulations European Community are included in (EC Regulation No 859/2008 of 20 August 2008)
amending Council Regulation (EEC) No 3922/91 as regards common technical requirements and
administrative procedures applicable to commercial transportation by aeroplane
view source EU-OPS here.
and the source for TGL-44 (JAR-OPS 1 Section 2 Guidance Material) TGL-44 here.