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FAA Changes Safety Rules for Long-Range Flights
The Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) published a comprehensive final rule that further reduces the risks for passengers and crews flying long-range regularly scheduled commercial routes over remote areas.
The rule effectively changes the current limitations and opens up routes for twin-engine passenger and cargo planes, and sets uniformly high standards for all commercial passenger planes when they fly routes more than three hours from an airport.
The new rule takes into account the extraordinary reliability of today’s aircraft engines. It covers the design, maintenance and operation of airplanes and engines for extended operations flights — commonly called ETOPS — that go beyond certain distances from the nearest airport.
Since airplanes occasionally divert for reasons unrelated to the engines, such as mechanical problems or passenger medical emergencies, the rule requires that airplane systems be able to support lengthy diversions in remote and sometimes harsh environments. The rule also requires 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 and make them comfortable.
Contact an Aviation Attorney near you to find out more about your legal rights.
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