3 ms·

By having airports on islands, or by pushing up the number of minutes that the engines/operator are certified for.

ufo 6y ago
For transatlantic flights, two important "backups" are in Iceland and in the Azores. I wonder how often airplanes actually have to detour to these airports...
- jfk13 6y ago
  It happens: I was on an London - USA flight that detoured to Iceland some years ago. (Fortunately nothing was seriously broken, burning, etc., but there was a warning indication of some kind that the pilot wanted to have checked.) The view coming in to Keflavik, with whales swimming in the ocean below, was pretty cool.
- kps 6y ago
  Last I know of is https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Transat_Flight_236 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Transat_Flight_236 running out of fuel.
- will_asouka 6y ago
  Happens fairly regularly but for passenger issues rather than technical- medical emergencies and disruptive passengers usually. Airlines have contracts with companies who provide a sat phone link to doctors who have the flight information and medical facilities at possible diversion airfields. Eg MedAire.
- sxcurry 6y ago
  Years ago I was on a 747 from SFO to LHR that landed in Iceland - oil pressure problem in an engine. A guy drove out with a pickup truck, climbed into the engine using a ladder in the back of the truck, and started hammering away. After a few hours in the terminal we got back on the plane and flew the rest of the way to LHR. I kept wondering just how qualified he was...
snuxoll 6y ago
Note that ETOPS goes beyond just engine ratings, it also requires the operator meet all sorts of additional requirements (what if you DO have to divert - can you have the passengers retrieved within 24 hours, do you have food and shelter if you have to divert to a non-commercial airport along the flight path, are your technicians doing proper maintenance, etc).
- jrockway 6y ago
  Good point. Edited my comment to add that :)

ufo 6y ago

For transatlantic flights, two important "backups" are in Iceland and in the Azores. I wonder how often airplanes actually have to detour to these airports...

jfk13 6y ago
It happens: I was on an London - USA flight that detoured to Iceland some years ago. (Fortunately nothing was seriously broken, burning, etc., but there was a warning indication of some kind that the pilot wanted to have checked.) The view coming in to Keflavik, with whales swimming in the ocean below, was pretty cool.
kps 6y ago
Last I know of is https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Transat_Flight_236 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Transat_Flight_236 running out of fuel.
will_asouka 6y ago
Happens fairly regularly but for passenger issues rather than technical- medical emergencies and disruptive passengers usually. Airlines have contracts with companies who provide a sat phone link to doctors who have the flight information and medical facilities at possible diversion airfields. Eg MedAire.
sxcurry 6y ago
Years ago I was on a 747 from SFO to LHR that landed in Iceland - oil pressure problem in an engine. A guy drove out with a pickup truck, climbed into the engine using a ladder in the back of the truck, and started hammering away. After a few hours in the terminal we got back on the plane and flew the rest of the way to LHR. I kept wondering just how qualified he was...

snuxoll 6y ago

Note that ETOPS goes beyond just engine ratings, it also requires the operator meet all sorts of additional requirements (what if you DO have to divert - can you have the passengers retrieved within 24 hours, do you have food and shelter if you have to divert to a non-commercial airport along the flight path, are your technicians doing proper maintenance, etc).

jrockway 6y ago
Good point. Edited my comment to add that :)