Originally Posted by DeltaFlyingProf
From LAX I believe so far you could not do it with a 777, because for that route 2 engine airplanes would be too far at times from any adequate airport.
Not really
Originally Posted by Vulcan
I believe that UA used to service AKL-LAX with a 777. However, they needed to "bend" to the west to stay within ETOPS distance of HNL, just in case of a problem. I believe they had a 210 or 218 minute ETOPS approval.
Hmm, first off... the highest ETOPS allotment currently available to N.American carriers is 207 minutes, and UA didn't even have that.
When UA planned/applied for the route, ETOPS138 was the maximum alloted to USA carriers in the S.Pacific. THAT required the "bend" which would've allowed them to fly their twin to AKL (by the way, if you're planning on using the GCM to contradict me-- don't waste your time, it doesn't apply here). Once UA got ETOPS180 approval for the route, they could've flown it by the Great Circle anyways (taking into account prevailing winds and the still air).
Originally Posted by Vulcan
And of course, soemthing did happen at exactly the wrong time on one flight and they ended up diverting to HNL at almost 210/218 minutes on 1 engine.
Yes, UA did exceed 180min during that diversion; but that of course doesn't allude to them being allotted that amount of time on a continual basis.
Originally Posted by Bagels
DL does have the ER variant of the B772, but the RR-powered birds would undoubtedly take major payload penalties that would nearly guarantee the flight would not be profitable.
Not exactly.
What many of you, who're basing your speculation of how DL's twins would perform on said routes based on UA's, seem to be forgetting is that DL's 777-232ERs are significantly more powerful beasts than UA's 777-222ERs.
For one thing, all of DL's birds are certified to a
656,000lb MTOW and Trent892-17s capable of uprate by 2tons (
184,000 aggregate total) thrust if necessary (though it wouldnt be). Compare that to
640,000lb for UA's birds (used in this instance) and a max output of
180,000lbs thrust.... see some differences?
