Originally Posted by
globalste
I think I know what you mean, but just for clarity. ETOPS (or Extended Twin Operations) is only fractionally to do with the engines and the airframe (A318/9LR have the exact same engines as any other A318/9) the rest of it is to do with the company operations.
Moreover, while people tend to think of it just as an engine problem, AIUI ETOPS issues tend to be to do with looking at combinations of unrelated failures that could cause an accident. So, for example, for an ETOPS mission your APU must be serviceable, to reduce the risk that you have an accident caused by an engine failure and an unrelated APU failure.
In contrast, issues that might affect all engines simultaneously - however many of them you have attached to the aircraft - are not really ETOPS issues because they're equally critical to safety of flight on all types. So, for example, liberated ice that was previously lurking in the fuel lines (G-YMMM) or ingestion of volcanic ash (G-BDXH) - to take two BA examples.