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Boeing 777-300ER 330-minute ETOPS Testing

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. 1. What is ETOPS?
    ETOPS refers to "extended operations" and is a conservative, evolutionary program that lets airlines fly twin-engine jetliners on extended routes (i.e., air routes that at some point are more than 60 minutes' flying time from an airport.) Since 1953, airliners with two engines have been restricted to operations within 60 minutes of an airport. However, starting in 1985, ETOPS standards have extended these times and until 2000, the limit has been up to 180 minutes. Since 2000, some airlines, on an as-needed basis, have applied for and received permission for 207 minutes.
  2. 2. Is ETOPS a common procedure?
    Yes, ETOPS is a very common ? and very successful ? procedure. More than 3.3 million ETOPS twinjets flights have been logged since 1985. Approximately, 125 airline operators perform some 1100 ETOPS flights per day ? over 30,000 flights per month. Performed worldwide, it ranks among the very safest and most reliable of all flight operations.
  3. 3. Why is the 777-300ER doing ETOPS testing?
    ETOPS testing is a requirement for the airplane to be certified and approved for ETOPS routes. ETOPS testing is just one part of the overall flight-test program that tests all aspects of the airplane and its performance. The two 777-300ER airplanes in flight test are currently undergoing 1500 hours of flight testing. So far, crews have evaluated takeoff, landing, handling characteristics, fuel consumption and ETOPS testing. The airplanes will undergo approximately 220 hours of ETOPS testing before the overall flight testing is complete.
  4. 4. How many hours of ETOPS testing need to be done before certification of the airplane?
    To satisfy all of the requirements set forward by the FAA, testing is done until all the requirements are met. For the 777-300ER, approximately 220 hours of ETOPS testing will be done before the airplane is certified.
  5. 5. Why 330-minute ETOPS testing?
    Successfully testing to 330-minute ETOPS will allow the 777-300ER to fly the most efficient routes anywhere in the world within its range capability. (The 777-300ER range capability is 7,420 nautical miles.)
  6. 6. Is 330-minute ETOPS the longest single-engine ETOPS demonstration flight performed for certification?
    Yes. Prior to 777-300ER testing, the longest previous single-engine ETOPS test flight was 180 minutes.
  7. 7. Will the airplane be certified at 330-minute ETOPS?
    Yes, that is the goal. This testing will show that the airplane is capable of 330-minute ETOPS.
  8. 8. Will some airlines that purchase the 777-300ER be able to fly at 330-minute ETOPS?
    Again, that is the goal. Of course, it will depend on the route structure that airlines will use the airplane for. When rules are in place, an airline will have to apply to their regulatory authority (e.g., FAA) for 330-minute ETOPS, if they fly a route that would require this capability. However, it is important to note that approximately 95 percent of the world routes require less than 180-minute ETOPS.
  9. 9. Can an engine be restarted if something goes wrong during the test?
    Yes. It is a simple procedure to restart an engine in flight.
  10. 10. Are other 777 models going to be certified to their maximum capability?
    Yes. The 777-300ER, the 777-200LR and the 777-200ER are planned to be certified to their maximum ETOPS capability.
  11. 11. Why wasn't the Boeing 777 certified to 330 minutes before?
    The recent recommendation from an international aviation rulemaking committee (called the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee ? ARAC), if adopted by the FAA, will allow airplane manufacturers to certify their products to the "maximum" ETOPS capability of the airplane. The 330-minute ETOPS testing will confirm the capability of the 777-300ER. We anticipate that the recommendations, submitted to the FAA in December 2002, will be approved by the FAA sometime in 2004.
  12. 12. Is there special equipment or training required for 330-minute ETOPS?
    ETOPS training is only one part of putting an airplane into service, if they will be flying ETOPS routes. Once an airline has been trained for ETOPS, no additional training is needed for 330-minute ETOPS. We do not know at this point if there will be any additional equipment required.
  13. 13. What does an airplane operating at 330 minutes ETOPS mean to a passenger?
    It will mean more direct, point-to-point, long-range flights for the traveling public. Any city pair, within the range capability of the airplane itself, will be capable of being reached through a direct, non-stop flight. This will provide more convenience and more options for airline customers.
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