ETOPS - Extended Twinned Engine Operations

1. 1. ETOPS
2. 2. ETOPS Extended Range Twin Engined Operations Kelvin Lam, Jul 2016
3. 3. Background Older aircraft... Spot the similarity...?
4. 4. Background • Tri-/quad jet engines • ↑ fuel consumption = ↑ cost of operation • ↑
maintenance cost • ↓ probability of all engines shutdown
5. 5. Background Newer aircraft... Spot the similarity...? Probably not much; they are
twinjets.
6. 6. Background • ↑probability of all engine shutdown • Can be fatal! • Nowadays, engine
reliability ↑ • ↑Aircraft reliability • ↑Longer range capabilities • Therefore, mitigation plan
possible: ETOPS certification
7. 7. Introduction • ETOPS criteria defines maximum flight duration with one-engine
operating, at one engine inoperative speed. • From any plausible critical points, the A/C
must be able to land at a diversionary airfield within the ETOPS permitted threshold. •
Threshold determined by: A/C & engine manufacturer, aviation authorities, IATA etc.
8. 8. Diversionary airfields
9. 9. 60-minute rule
10. 10. 120-minute rule ETOPS black hole Beginning stage of ETOPS
11. 11. 138-minute rule After 6 months on 120 mins operations, an additional 15% maybe
granted
12. 12. 180-minute rule After 12 months on 138 mins operations, with good A/C & engine
reliability, 180- mins approval may be granted. This enables almost any commercial
routes to be flown. To South America
13. 13. What has changed? • Diversionary distance with 1 engine operative (drag) • Descend
& cruise speed control (maintaining FL and gentle slope that gives best TAS) • Critical
fuel planning, taking engine failure/depressurisation into account
14. 14. What has changed? Dispatch-wise... • MNPS & RNP certification and consideration
(“perpendicular” to RSVM) • Stringent MMEL  extra weight • Additional failsafe
navigation systems • Weather minima requirement when route dispatch
15. 15. ETOPS critical fuel reserves • In case of engine failure / depressurisation,
diversionary scenarios can be like this... Very low efficiency for turbine engines!
16. 16. ETOPS critical fuel reserves
17. 17. ETOPS critical fuel reserves Gas Turbine Engine – Propulsive Efficiency
18. 18. ETOPS critical fuel reserves Higher fuel burn to compensate reduced thrust Gas
Turbine Engine – Propulsive Efficiency
19. 19. ETOPS critical fuel reserves *NB: not the same as Cost Index / Performance Factor,
as this is a safety-critical situation
20. 20. Procedure • Complete failure checklist • Inform ATC • Initiate descent • Determine
alternate airfield • Divert using pre-planned diversion strategy and speed profile, subject
to actual situational evaluation • OFF Fuel X-Feed to faulty engine
21. 21. Procedure • OFF Air-Conditioning PACK (reduce engine load) • APU START
(maintain blue hydraulic level)
22. 22. Diversion distance • Influential factors: A/C Gross Weight at take off ISA
atmospheric / metrological condition Diversionary FL = 170 (usual) Never exceed
speed: one-engine VMO/MMO Engine choice
23. 23. Approval principle • According to EASA AMC 20-6, three criteria is defined to apply for
ETOPS approval Type design approval In-service Experience Approval/Continuing
Airworthiness Operations Approval
24. 24. Type-design approval • Ensures that the aircraft type certification provide...
Adequate system redundancy Data supplied for safety assessments Reliability of
engine in IFSD situation (In Flight Shut Down)
25. 25. In-Service Experience approval • Requires data from world A/C fleet & engine to
achieve necessary level of engine reliability collectively • Requires evidence of operator’s
capability to maintain & operate ETOPS aircraft • Question to be considered:
26. 26. In-Service Experience approval • Requires data from world A/C fleet & engine to
achieve necessary level of engine reliability collectively • Requires evidence of operator’s
capability to maintain & operate ETOPS aircraft • Question to be considered: “How does
the extra cost in ETOPS crew training & hardware certification, justify fuel saving cost in
longer timespan?”
27. 27. Operations approval • Requires more stringent quality on engine & APU (crucial for
maintaining ETOPS airworthiness) • Restrictive MEL aircraft requirement • ETOPS route
may have reduced pool of ETOPS-certified A/C due to maintenance input • Reputable &
sound forward planning to achieve no ADD (acceptable deferred defect) target for ETOPS
28. 28. Operations approval • Significant system: – Adversely affect safety of ETOPS flight
when failed; – Its functioning is imperative to a safe diversionary flight
29. 29. Operations approval • Significant system: – Adversely affect safety of ETOPS flight
when failed; – Its functioning is imperative to a safe diversionary flight FAIL! FAIL! FAIL!
FAIL! FAIL! FAIL!FAIL!
30. 30. Mitigation Type-design approval In-Service Experience approval Operations approval
Monitored by EASA Data supplied Airline maintenance / flight-ops management input
HOW?
31. 31. ETOPS Management Type-design approval In-Service Experience approval
Operations approval Monitored by EASA Data supplied Airline maintenance / flight-ops
management input ETOPS MANAGEMENT Evidence sent to EASA from time-to-time...
32. 32. ETOPS Management - airline Closer fleet monitoring on repetitive defects ASRs
Regular ETOPS meeting/engineering newsletter Airline maintenance / flight-ops
management input ETOPS MANAGEMENT Mitigate many inter-related ADDs (iceberg
theory) Above & beyond MEL standard
33. 33. ETOPS Management - EASA Monitored by EASA Data supplied ETOPS
MANAGEMENT Monitors IFSD rates, abnormal power thrust, turnbacks/diversions. Any
other significant ETOPS events
34. 34. ETOPS Management • When a problem is spotted, airline can consider: Performing
less restrictive ETOPS route Honour (most) ADD requests Priority maintenance tasks
Call for meetings with stakeholders
35. 35. ETOPS Management • To remain ETOPS compliant, airline shall demonstrate – High
standard of (paper-work from) maintenance – Low number of ADD – Low number of faults
– Good monitoring & management systems
36. 36. Conclusion • ETOPS definition & meaning: flight duration, critical point, diversionary •
Progressive approval: 60, 120, 138, 180, beyond 180 • ETOPS certifying consideration:
dispatch route, critical fuel • ETOPS approval: type-design, in-flight service, operations •
ETOPS management: ADD/fleet monitoring, ETOPS meeting