Crew Preferences - 2 engines or 4?
 

HI!

I'm studying for a BEng in Air Transport Engineering at City Univerisity, London. I'm in the process of writing my thesis which is titled 'The future development of ETOPS and Long Range Operations'. One of my chapters is based on what aicraft flight crew prefer when operating long-range flights. If you are a pilot that has flown both twinjets and quadjets I would really appreciate if you could answer the following question:

" Do you prefer to fly 2 or 4 engined aicraft on long overwater flights or routes which fly over extreme regions, which entail long diversion times?why?" (please answer with the aicraft types that you usually fly (and country)

Your views will help me a great deal and I look forward to your responses!

Regards,

Vish

:confused: :confused:

What about 3 engined aircraft?

ok three included but they are not so common any more...its all about airbus 340 vs boeing 777

vish

Personally, the more engines, the merrier!

I currently fly the 744 for a US carrier, mostly on trans-Pacific flights. In past lives I've flown both single- and twin-engine airplanes on long overwater operations.

The issue is simply one of redundancy and safety vs cost. If twin-engine airplanes were as safe as 3- or 4-engine airplanes, special ETOPS regulations would not be needed!

The issue goes beyond engines -- the twin has fewer electrical generators, hydraulic systems and pumps, and pressurization packs. In the 744, inflight shutdown of an engine is not necessarily a reportable emergency!

The issue also extends beyond ETOPS. When you lose an engine after takeoff in a twin, you lose 50% of your available power; with a 3- or 4-holer you lose 33% or 25%, respectively. While certification requirements will give the twin more excess power (and the requisite rudder authority) to begin with, performance over mountains (e.g., South America) will likely be more critical with twins.

ok three included but they are not so common any more...its all about airbus 340 vs boeing 777

vish

4 engines anyday - on each wing:D

reminds me of a joke that was posted here once.

F-16 in Dallas, TX area reporting engine trouble - Requests priority to land. ATC tells him "Number Two, behind B52 with one engine shutdown" F-16 Pilot comes back with "uh no... not the dreaded 7 engine approach!!!"

Four, by all means, preferably with a FE.