I'll try to make it as simple as possible:
Originally Posted by granard
Am I right in saying if a two engine aircraft takes off and now I shutdown the other engine and we fly for 60 minutes the distance that I cover would be the limit for that aircraft, if it crosses this limit this aircraft is now flying ETOPS.
Is this the correct interpretation !!
Not exactly.
Before flying ETOPS, the aircraft must be ETOPS certified by the manufacturer.
The operator who wishes to operate under ETOPS must go through an approval with its regulatory authorities.
Part of this approval process, a 60 min maximum diversion distance has to be determined (i.e. approved one-engine inoperative cruise speed)
There are different methods to calculate it....
Once this distance has been calculated and approved, you will be flying ETOPS each time your route takes you further than this 60 min max diversion distance from an ADEQUATE airport.
That 60 min distance is fixed under the ETOPS approval and can vary from one operator to another.
In my company, it is 420 NM for all Airbus fleets for commonality reasons.