Boeing 747-8 U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved 330-minute Extended Operations (ETOPS) for the Boeing 747-8 Intercon...
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Boeing 747-8 |
Although ETOPS has been a requirement for twin-engine airplanes since the 1980s, the regulations have recently been applied to the design of passenger airplanes with more than two engines.
With this approval, required for four-engine passenger airplanes built after Feb. 2015 to fly beyond 180 minutes from an en-route alternate airport, the 747-8's design is approved to conduct 330-minute ETOPS missions. These missions allow operators to fly long-distances more directly on virtually any worldwide city pair routing.
Last year Boeing 787 also achieved a 330 minute ETOPS. The Airbus A350 has won 350 minute ETOPS.
Officially announced in 2005, the 747-8 is the third generation of the 747, with lengthened fuselage, redesigned wings, and improved efficiency. The 747-8 is the largest 747 version, the largest commercial aircraft built in the United States, and the longest passenger aircraft in the world.
With 83 airplanes in service with 11 customers, 747-8s have logged more than 619,000 flight hours and more than 101,000 flight cycles.
The type including Airbus A380 has been struggling to win new orders.
