The Air Transport Association has formed a new committee to study changes that may be required in international operations. The International Operations Committee is being tasked to study and make recommendations on the proposed 207 Minute ETOPS rule, changes in Operations Specifications, FARs relating to international fuel reserves, alternate minimums, no-alternate minimums, the six-hour rule, and re-dispatch procedures (ADF E-news; jul.1, 1999)...More

"The question is not "How often a two-, three- or four-engine aircraft has to divert while flying an ETOPS flight?" but rather "How safe is the aircraft while flying an ETOPS divert?" Most people who have flown over oceans would prefer to have two or three engines remaining during a diversion, rather than just one. " Capt. (Ret.) Doug P. Millar, Federal Way, Wash. ( Aviation Week & Space technology, 05/17/1999)

" If APA would drop its opposition to this plan, and simply rely on GE or Rolls Royce to get our pilots and passengers to their destinations no matter what happens over the ocean or the ice cap, AMR could save some money using "least-fuel" routings for twin-engine jets. You and your passengers take the risks, and AMR counts the money." More

Boeing plans later this year to urge the FAA to scrap its 14-year-old process for clearing airlines to fly twin-engine aircraft on long-range, remote routes and replace it with one that would impose design and operational safeguards on future aircraft used on such routes, regardless of how many engines they use... (Aviation Week & Space Technology. Mar.8, 1999). More

Boeing wants ETOPS beyond 180 min. because that would help it sell the 777 to carriers like American Airlines and Continental Airlines that want to fly shorter, more direct transpacific routes. And it would allow Boeing to stop subsidizing some remote airports operated largely to provide ETOPS alternates. But the Coalition of Air Line Pilots Assns., which represents 28,000 airline flight crew members, reminded Garvey that senior agency officials vowed in March not to act until all the parties involved--airlines, manufacturers, the FAA and pilots--agree it is prudent. More

Concerned that the FAA is inclined to approve requests to fly twin-engine passenger transports up to 4 hr. from the nearest emergency airfield, a coalition of pilots' unions is seeking a meeting with top agency officials to review the risk of such operations. More