What is the 60 minute rule flight?

Years ago, piston engines were undependable. Because of this, twin-engine aircraft were required to fly in range of a suitable airport for landing. In 1953, the FAA imposed what is known as the “60-minute rule” on two- and three-engine airplanes, disallowing them to fly more than 60 minutes outside the closest airport.



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For example, if an aircraft is certified for 180 minutes, it is permitted to fly any route not more than 180 minutes' single-engine flying time to the nearest suitable airport.

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ETOPS is an acronym that stands for “Extended-range Twin-engine Operational Performance Standards.” The standards determine how long an aircraft can fly from a diversionary airport with only one operable engine in the event of an emergency.

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This was the first ETOPS certification rating given: ETOPS 120 minutes. This means that twin-engine aircraft were allowed to fly no more than 120 minutes flying time away from the nearest airport suitable for an emergency landing.

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As long as the plane has communication to ATC or other planes, the pilot would report the problem and his/her next cause of action. This would include the intention to divert to the closest airport or to do an emergency water landing if there is no other option.

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As a result, flying over water really is no riskier than flying over land.

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The most common reason is that there are no airstrips or airports on many of the small islands, so if a plane had to make an emergency landing, it would be difficult to find a place to land. Additionally, the Pacific Ocean is vast and remote, so if a plane were to go down, it would be very difficult to find.

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Today, the best ETOPs certification record is 370 minutes, for the Airbus A350, powered exclusively by the Trent XWB. This maximum diversion time, of six hours and 10 minutes, is equivalent to a maximum diversion distance of 2,500 nautical miles (4,630 km), a civil aviation industry record.

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You need to name an alternate airport on your IFR flight plan if, for the period of time one hour before and one hour after your estimated time of arrival, the weather is forecast to include a ceiling of 2,000 feet agl and/or visibilities less than three statute miles (the 1-2-3 rule).

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Get the Latest from Boeing
2015 to fly beyond 180 minutes from an en-route alternate airport, the 747-8's design is approved to conduct 330-minute ETOPS missions. These missions allow operators to fly long-distances more directly on virtually any worldwide city pair routing.

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They are both safe — even if one type has a slightly higher accident rate, that rate is still infinitesimal. Q: Is a four-engine 747 safer than a two-engine 777? A: No, they are both safe. Having two additional engines is not a guarantee of increased safety.

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Increases Passenger Capacity The Airbus A380, for example, has a passenger capacity of 853. Like most other wide-body airplanes, the Airbus A380 is powered by four engines. This allows it to carry more passengers than its two-engine and single-engine counterparts.

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The Boeing 747-400 experiences the least degradation in performance, making it safer during an engine failure. Fitting an aircraft with four engines also increases power, enabling more passengers, heavier payloads, and increased performance.

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The mountainous region of Tibet increases the risk of turbulence, making it disruptive for passengers and potentially dangerous. Low temperatures in the region pose a risk of jet fuel freezing, which can lead to severe crashes, highlighting the importance of temperature for jet fuel flow.

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