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Old 23rd Apr 2013, 08:34
  #47 (permalink)  
FullWings
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Tring, UK
Posts: 1,847
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We (a major EU carrier) are currently discussing this anomaly as at the moment we only specify "adequate" aerodromes when dispatched non-ETOPS (60min). It always struck me as odd that we flew ETOPS until the weather worsened to the point where ETOPS alternates (what we still call "suitable") were unavailable, then we just blasted off using 60mins, irrespective of the conditions.

I do admit to being a bit uncomfortable going to/from Japan/China/Korea over Russia in the winter with miles and miles of airfields giving 100M BLSN VV000. If you need to divert, you could probably find *somewhere* within a couple of hours that you could use operationally but it will have been below forecast minima for ETOPS. You end up doing a non-ETOPS sector knowing full well that you will be >>1hr from anywhere sensible for much of the route, which seems somewhat of a loophole in the whole intent of long-range ops.
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