Single suitable ETOPS alternate

[felixthecat]

My understanding of when a single suitable airport is covering the ETOPS segment is that the diversion is planned to the suitable airport from entering ETOPs until the flight is back within the 60 mins area of the adequate airport.

Does this mean that there is no ETP point and that in effect the critical fuel would be based upon the exit point of the ETOPS sector since until that point the planning is to divert back to the suitable airport?

Thanks all :)

[MrMachfivepointfive]

Basically correct. No ETP. However, even the entry point could be the critical fuel point if the single suitable airport is on the destination side of the ETOPS area.

[felixthecat]

Good point I was thinking Suitable as the departure side and as you say it could well be the arrival side :ok:

[Canuckbirdstrike]

With a single ETOPS alternate there is only one nominated alternate airport and therefore it is impossible to have an ETP. What is important is to understand where the critical point for fuel is. It will either be the ETOPS entry or exit point. The critical point will be the point that is the greater distance from the single ETOPS alternate airport.