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Old 28th Apr 2003, 07:51
  #12 (permalink)  
Keg

Nunc est bibendum
 
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Sydney, Australia
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Kiwilad, the ETOPS time limit is a PLANNING limitation only. Once you're in flight, you can take as long as you like to get to your airport. EG, QF uses 430 knots as our ETOPS speed (it was originally based on Darwin to Manila and two hours!). Lauda used a greater speed on their 767s due to their particular route structure. Once the event occurs though, you have no requirement to be there in the time limit. As an example, if the event happened at the exact mid point between DN and MNL, then there is no way you could average the 430 knots to get to MNL (including the descent phase). So, it would actually take closer to two hours ten to get there. Further, wind is NOT a factor in determining the ETOPS airfield. You may battle a 100 knot wind all the way there. Obviously, this is going to turn a 'two hour' sector into close to a three hour one.

ETOPS is a distance. How long it takes to get there is another thing entirely!
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