New Rules for Long Haul Flights

Prompted by the “extraordinary reliability of today’s aircraft engines,” the Federal Aviation Administration published its final rule to increase the safety of long-haul flights over remote areas. It boosts the current routes for twin-engine passengers and cargo operations and sets uniformly high standards for all commercial passenger planes when they fly routes more than three hours from an airport. “Twenty one years of ETOPs experience shows us that modern jet engines rarely shut down in flight,” said FAA Administrator Marion C. Blakey. “Our new safety requirements for long-range flights are designed to prevent mechanical problems and protect passengters and crew in the rare event of an emergency diversion.” The rule requires aircraft systems be able to support lengthy diversion in remote and harsh environments, requiring pro-active flight planning, crew training and plans to have facilities at or close to each diversion airport that will protect passengers and crew from the elements. The rule, based extensively on Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC) recommendations, formalizes existing polity, industry best practices and international standards to ensure long-range flights operate safely in Polar regions, the South Atlantic between South Africa and South America and the southeastern South Pacific Ocean. More