Originally Posted by
3Greens
ETOPS is essentially a planning exercise only. I.e. can you legally dispatch. Once airborne ETPs are only as good as the forecast winds so trying to work them out to the nearest minute is pretty much meaningless. As long as you know where youre nearest suitable alternate is at all times then that for me is pragmatic and safe. ETOPS alternates are only applicable at the planning stage, once airborne, normal rules apply.
At my place, ETOPS alternates are applicable up to the EEP. Is it different in Europe?