The Extended-range Twin-engine Operational Performance Standards (ETOPS) are rules for one-engine-inoperative flight conditions. It is also a certification that allows twin-engine aircraft to operate routes a certain distance away from the nearest airport available for an emergency landing.

The early days

In the early 1980s, three or four-engine aircraft primarily operated over-water long-range flights. At the time, the Airbus A300 was equipped with ETOPS-90 certification. Meanwhile, the Boeing 767 program facilitated the development of the ETOPS extension beyond the existing 60-minute limit.

The Boeing 767, with its modern technology and intelligent systems, surpassed the safety and redundancy standards of prior aircraft.

ETOPS certification

The extended-range version of the Boeing 767, the 767-200ER, entered into commercial service in 1984. Boeing commenced a 7,500-mile (12,000 km) delivery flight of the 767-200ER from Washington Dulles (IAD) to Addis Ababa (ADD) in Ethiopia.

Boeing had acquired a one-time concession from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to operate the direct flight. Later that year, the FAA equipped the 767-200ER with a 75-minute ETOPS regulation, just in time for Air Canada to take delivery of the jet.

Since then, Boeing lobbied the FAA to extend the jet’s limit to 120 minutes to open new transatlantic routes.

The FAA requirements

The…