Airbus is calling for aviation authorities to make a co-ordinated approach to new legislation for long-range operations (LROPS), following proposals from the US Federal Aviation Administration to relax extended-range twin-engined operations (ETOPS) rules.
Twinjets are subject to diversion time limits of 180min when operating far from available airfields, but the FAA's proposal, issued as a draft notice of proposed rulemaking last month, will allow twins to operate to the same long-range limits as three- and four-engined aircraft. The European Joint Aviation Authorities, which is working on its own update of ETOPS/LROPS legislation, is expected to retain existing ETOPS diversion limits.
Airbus vice-president John Leahy says the FAA's move is "a serious mistake...the industry needs to look at LROPS in a co-ordinated manner". He adds that allowing the operation of twinjets on 4h over-water sectors with an engine failed is unacceptable.
Airbus's long-range offering is the four-engined A340 family, which can operate direct services on very long over-water sectors.
Source: Flight International
