Kate Sarsfield/LONDON
The European Joint Aviation Authorities technical operations committee has issued a notice of proposed amendment on extended range twin-engined operations (ETOPS) for business aircraft.
The release of the notice draws to a close months of lobbying conducted by the general aviation community, which has been pressing the JAA to rewrite its proposals on ETOPS.
The proposed amendment notice, which was released in early June for public consultation, allows commercially operated business aircraft which are lighter than the 45t (100,000lb) maximum take-off weight to fly up to 120min from the nearest diversion airport.
This is extended to 180min, once special aircraft systems and crew procedure requirements have been met.
The European authority's decision has been hailed by the general aviation community as a positive step forward.
The US General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), European Business Aviation Association, UK General Aviation Manufacturers and Traders Association and the Business Aircraft Users Association have been pushing to alter the original rule proposal, made in December 1996, which just mentioned a 120min ETOPS.
"The original JAA proposal would have required every operator of this type of aircraft to fly an indirect route across the Atlantic, needlessly adding to operating costs," says GAMA president Ed Bolan.
GAMA adds that the re-routing would have generated refuelling stops when an aircraft could otherwise fly non-stop safely above most adverse weather conditions.
"After extensive public comment, the JAA realised its original proposal was definitely not an improvement to safety as, adhering to current operating practices, operators have experienced zero [ETOPS-related] accidents in over 30 years of long-range operations," says Bolan.
The JAA is accepting public comment on the proposed rule until September, with a final ruling planned for publication by the end of the year.
Source: Flight International
