Originally Posted by
EWR764
ETOPS has two components: airframe rating and carrier certification. The GENx 787 obtained 330-minute ETOPS rating about four years ago, after Boeing was able to demonstrate achievement of certain reliability thresholds and inflight shutdown (IFSD) rates with the fleet of in-service 787s. The other component is carrier certification, which is granted for each successive ETOPS level based on FAA review of the carrier's operational specifications and ETOPS history.
UA is now in the process of obtaining 330-minute ETOPS certification, which should take several months. This is expressly for IAHSYD, which will permit a more direct routing and avoid weight restrictions necessary for the diversion around the existing ETOPS 'hole' in the mid-Pacific. Even with the UA1175 incident, UA has such extensive ETOPS flying that it won't materially impact United's IFSD rate. As such is virtually assured United will get the desired certification.
My understanding was that the carrier certification was also aircraft specific - i.e. they could have 180 on the 777 but 240 on the 787. Regardless, that's nice to know that they don't have 330 at the carrier level for the 787 yet. Do you know if they have 240? To me it looks like the route for IAH-SYD for the past few days has cut across the ETOPS-180 no-go zone, or at least skirted
extremely close to it. To my understanding the 15% extension wouldn't apply here as there is *no* diversion airport within 180 of that no-go zone, not just one closed.