A350 achieve 370 minute ETOPS

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has approved the new Airbus A350-900 airliner for ETOPS (Extended-range Twin engine aircraft O...

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has approved the new Airbus A350-900 airliner for ETOPS (Extended-range Twin engine aircraft Operations) beyond 180 minutes diversion time, including an option for up to 370 minute maximum diversion time.
This allows the twin engined A350 to fly up to 370 minutes from a nearest alternate landing field in case of an emergency, enabling more direct flight paths, saving fuel and reducing carbon emissions.

The approval prior to entry into service (EIS) demonstrates the high level maturity the new generation A350 airliner has achieved. FAA’s respective ETOPS certification is expected soon. Airbus says around 70 percent of A350 flight hours will be ETOPS.

ETOPS allow twin jets to fly long distance routes (especially over water, desert or remote polar areas) that were previously considered safe only for triple or four engined aircrafts.

The approval which includes ETOPS 180min in the basic specification also includes provisions for ‘ETOPS 300min’ and ‘ETOPS 370min’ depending on individual operator selection. The latter option extends the diversion distance up to an unprecedented 2,500nm – a distance which corresponds to a maximum ETOPS diversion time for the A350 of approximately 370 minutes, at one-engine-inoperative speed under standard atmospheric conditions.

The 370 min ETOPS option will allow airlines to fly new direct southern routes such as between Australia, South Africa and South America; while the ETOPS 300min option will facilitate more efficient transoceanic routes across the North and Mid-Pacific – such as from South East Asia to US, and Australasia to the US. Meanwhile, operators flying on existing routes (currently flown with up to 180 minute diversion time) will be able to traverse a straighter and consequently quicker and more fuel efficient path.

In 2009, the Airbus A330 became the first airliner to gain an ETOPS ‘Beyond 180min’ certification, when it was granted an ETOPS 240min certification by EASA. As of today, Airbus twin-engined airliners have accumulated over 16 million ETOPS flight hours, out of which over 12 million have been accumulated by the A330 models. The rival Boeing 787 Dreamliner was approved for 330 minute ETOPS by FAA in May 2014.

“ETOPS” is a set of rules initially introduced by International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) in the mid-1980s to allow commercial operations with twin-engine aircraft on routes beyond 60min flying time from the nearest airport and which were previously operated only by aircraft with more than two engines. These rules, which are now named “EDTO” (Extended Diversion Time Operations) by ICAO have been progressively revised to allow operations beyond 180min diversion time.

The A350 was granted type certification for commercial operation by EASA on Sept 30. Qatar Airways is the launch customer with EIS by year end.