selecta Member
Joined: 24 Dec 2006 Posts: 813 Location: ORD
|
Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 10:06 pm Post subject: Bye Bye ETOPS? |
|
|
Jets with two engines are as safe as those with three or four, and they should have the same ability to fly long-distance routes, the FAA says.
A new FAA rule lifts restrictions limiting twin-engine jetliners to routes taking them no more than 180 minutes of flying time from an airport equipped for emergency landings. The change takes effect in 30 days.
"The ability to fly point to point obviously has a major financial impact to carriers," FAA Administrator Marion Blakey told reporters Monday in Washington in announcing the rule. The FAA's shift recognizes the improved safety and range of modern jet engines.
If ever the big twin market got good news, this is it. This news is thanks to amazing strides in engine technology from GE, Pratt&Whitney and Rolls Royce (in alphabetical order). Without their remarkable efforts in building nearly perfect pieces of machinery, with tiny failure rates, this could not happen. The amount of time and fuel saved is worth millions to airlines. Well done!
link _________________
http://openflights.org/user/citrus |
|