Deepwater Capable
 

What does Jet Blue mean when they say they have "deepwater capability'?
Last night at FLL we were told there would be a 3 hour delay due to weather at EWR.Everyone left the gate area to eat/drink whatever. About 10 mins. later an announcement was made that the captain would take a different route to go around the bad weather on the east coast, because Jet Blue has deepwater capability.Never heard that term.
As an aside.... a lot of pax were in the bar and did not hear this announcement. Those of us who did, boarded immediately. They held the plane for almost an hour rounding up pax throughout the terminal. They even re-opened the cabin door twice. Captain said he was just trying to be accomodating...........

Doesn't it mean that they can fly over water well off shore? I think that there are limits of how far you can go, based upon the plane capabilities.
That is why the 4 engine planes can fly a different route than 2 engine planes.

Maybe, The plane was an A320. The pilot made a point of saying the deepwater thing,like not too many other airlines can do it.

Was it JBU 510? This shows the deep water route taken yesterday enroute to EWR. Compare that to the earlier Jet Blue flight. But it also looks like Continental and USA 3000 both took similar routes over the water yesterday.

I suspect this has something to do with ETOPS.

I think it has to do with what the aircraft is equipped with in terms of
Rafts and Floatation devices.

I dont have much details, but over the water flights must be equipped
with inflatable life vests and all the other fancy stuff like rafts etc..

Here is a link with some info: http://www.faa.gov/Atpubs/NAO/NAOC03.HTM

Not sure if its for Commercial or private aircrafts.

Such as Southwest, I'd assume.

That way the passengers might keep that in mind the next time they plan summer travel in the Northeast.