FAA: New ETOPS Regs For FAR 121 and 135 Ops | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-10.06.25

AirborneNextGen-
10.07.25

Airborne-Unlimited-10.08.25

Airborne-FlightTraining-10.09.25

AirborneUnlimited-10.10.25

Tue, Nov 11, 2003

FAA: New ETOPS Regs For FAR 121 and 135 Ops

FAA Proposes First-Ever Regulations on Long-Range Aircraft Operations

The era of the trans-oceanic three and four engine airliner continues to fade. The FAA is proposing first-time regulations for extended aircraft operations (ETOPS), which would allow consumers to take advantage of new, more direct routes and more frequent trips on existing routes.

“Because of the impressive reliability of modern jet engines, the proposed rules will allow aircraft with two engines to fly more direct routes on long-range flights more safely and at the same time save travelers time and airlines fuel and operating expenses,” said FAA Administrator Marion C. Blakey.

If adopted, ETOPS rules will cover scheduled air carriers (Part 121) and charter operators (Part 135) and carry the full legal authority of a federal aviation regulation. Currently, carriers and operators comply voluntarily with FAA advisory circulars that govern ETOPS.

“The proposed ETOPS rules reflect today’s advanced engine technology and performance,” Blakey said. “Pilots who enter the profession today are likely to go through their entire careers without experiencing an engine failure.”

ETOPS flights, which number nearly 30,000 worldwide each month, are possible due to the improved reliability and performance of today’s jet engines. Beginning in 1985, the FAA incrementally relaxed the rule prohibiting two-engine airplanes from flying more than 60 minutes from a diversion airport. Today, the majority of flights over the North Atlantic and a growing number of flights over the Pacific operate with two-engine aircraft, bringing extensive benefits to the flying public.

These new regulations will also strengthen safety and bring greater uniformity by including three- and four- engine aircraft that are currently not subjected to two-engine aircraft ETOPS requirements. Additional ETOPS requirements for aircraft with at least two engines will include cargo fire suppression, rescue and fire-fighting capability and improved communication.

This proposed rulemaking also incorporates recommendations by the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee, a government-industry body that helps the FAA develop proposed rules, existing FAA policy, industry best practices and international standards to ensure that long-range flights will continue to operate safely.

FMI: www.faa.gov

Advertisement

More News

True Blue Power and Mid-Continent Instruments and Avionics Power NBAA25 Coverage

Mid-Continent Instruments and Avionics and True Blue Power ANN's NBAA 2025 Coverage... Visit Them At Booth #3436 101 Aviation Nears STC Approval for Lithium Battery Upgrade on Gulf>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (10.11.25): Hertz

Hertz The standard radio equivalent of frequency in cycles per second of an electromagnetic wave. Kilohertz (kHz) is a frequency of one thousand cycles per second. Megahertz (MHz) >[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (10.11.25)

“NATCA does not endorse, support, or condone any federal employees participating in or endorsing a coordinated activity that negatively affects the capacity of the NAS, or an>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (10.11.25)

Aero Linx: European Association for Aviation Psychology (EAAP) Since 1956 the European Association for Aviation Psychology (EAAP) provides a forum for professionals working in the >[...]

NTSB Prelim: Pegasus Quantum 15

Aircraft Experienced A Total Loss Of Engine Power During A Go-Around Attempt And Then Impacted A Soybean Field On September 13, 2025, at 1625 eastern daylight time, a Pegasus Quant>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC