AC 120-42B ETOPS and Polar Ops - Code7700

AC 120-42B 6/13/08certificate holder of a two-engine airplane should exercise ETOPS beyond 180 minutes authorityonly if there are no ETOPS alternates that are within a 180-minute diversion distance from theplanned route of flight. In addition, those adequate airports closest to the planned route of flightshould be those first considered as ETOPS alternates.(2) Flight Planning Limitation. The certificate holder’s ETOPS flight planningprogram must ensure that the planned route of flight remains within the authorized ETOPS areaof operation in accordance with § 121.633 as follows:(a) For ETOPS up to and including 180 minutes and 207 minutes in the NorthPacific Area of Operation, the time required to fly the distance to the planned ETOPS alternate,at the approved one-engine inoperative cruise speed in still air and standard conditions, may notexceed the time specified for the airplane’s most time limited ETOPS significant system(including cargo fire suppression) minus 15 minutes.(b) For ETOPS beyond 180 minutes, the time required to fly the distance to theplanned ETOPS alternate, at the all-engines-operating cruise speed at the normal all-enginecruisealtitude, correcting for wind and temperature, may not exceed the certified capability forthe airplane’s most limiting fire suppression system minus 15 minutes. Three- and four-engineturbine engine-powered airplanes not meeting these requirements as of the effective date of§ 121.633 may continue ETOPS operations until February 15, 2013.(c) Further, for ETOPS beyond 180 minutes, the time required to fly the distance tothe planned ETOPS alternate, at the approved one-engine inoperative cruise speed at the normalone engine inoperative level off altitude, correcting for wind and temperature, may not exceedthe certified capability for the airplane’s most time limited ETOPS significant system (except forthe most limiting fire suppression system) minus 15 minutes.NOTE: Certificate holders flying three- and four-engine airplanes prior to theestablished installation time and certification time requirements of theregulation for these systems and their airplanes are exempt from these flightplanning limitations. Once such required fire suppression systems are installed(no later than February 15, 2013) and once the ETOPS significant systemtime limits are established as required by appendix K of part 25, § K25.1.7 (nolater than February 17, 2015), the operator must follow the flight planninglimitations in §§ 121.633(b)(1) and 121.633(b)(2).(3) Landing Distance. For the runway expected to be used, the landing distanceavailable, as specified by the airport authority, must be sufficient based on airplane flight manuallanding performance data to meet the landing distance limitations specified in § 121.197. Thealtitude of the airport, wind conditions, runway surface conditions, and airplane handlingcharacteristics should be taken into account.(4) Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting Service (RFFS).(a) The following minimum International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)RFFS categories must be available at each airport listed as an ETOPS Alternate Airport in adispatch or flight release:Page 26 Par 303