How often do you fly on Business or First Class

Mere curiosity question: how do crew rest rules work on transatlantic flights on an A-320/321?

I suppose on a 7-hour flight, they simply don't take a break. But this doesn't sound right. In any case, there's no room on an 320/1 for a crew rest area.

I suppose they could, on an all-business configuration, block two seats at the back for the crew to take their beak at.

Quote: Nareed

For example, while an A320 can fly that far, it would require ETOPS certification, and that costs money.

Westjet pulled off this route with a 737-700. St John’s to Dublin is scheduled gate-to-gate at a mere 4h15m, but I bet it is actually within 2 hours of either airport all the time, so it is automatically ETOPS.

They are not outfitting an all business class configuration.

Quote: Pacomartin

Westjet pulled off this route with a 737-700. St John’s to Dublin is scheduled gate-to-gate at a mere 4h15m, but I bet it is actually within 2 hours of either airport all the time, so it is automatically ETOPS.

I'm not sure about "automatically," but it's clever.

From JFK-LHR, how far do aircraft get from the nearest airport? I guess for a while early on even over water a separation of under 2 hours is possible

Quote: Nareed

From JFK-LHR, how far do aircraft get from the nearest airport? I guess for a while early on even over water a separation of under 2 hours is possible

10 Jan 2015
A British Airways passenger jet approached supersonic speed as it rode a surging jet stream from New York to London. The Boeing 777-200 jet reached a ground speed of 745mph as it rode winds of more than 200mph across the Atlantic. At ground level, the speed of sound is 761mph. The happy result was a flight time of just five hours and 16 minutes for BA114, which arrived an hour and half before schedule.

I assume that they use Goose Bay, Kangerlussuaq Airport, and Reykjavik airport to calculate ETOPS route for 120 minute.

Quote: Pacomartin

I assume that they use Goose Bay, Kangerlussuaq Airport, and Reykjavik airport to calculate ETOPS route for 120 minute.

If I'm reading this right, a plane flying JFK-LHR will almost always be within 120 minutes from either airport.

I have heard that the 787 has over 300 minutes approved for ETOPS.

Paco, at what speed would most of these planes fly on a single engine? Would it be near 50% of normal cruise speed? I don't know this but I would assume they would decrease altitude after an engine failure.

Quote: DRich

Paco, at what speed would most of these planes fly on a single engine? Would it be near 50% of normal cruise speed?

I'm sure the average twin engine plane can put out more then 50% of normal cruising speed on one engine. But not for an extended period of time. Cruise speed demands far less than full power.

BTW, I've heard that 4 engine military transport planes can, and often do, switch off one engine to save fuel. I don't know whether I believe it.

Quote:

I don't know this but I would assume they would decrease altitude after an engine failure.

Yes, that's standard from what I've read. I mean, besides the normal loss of altitude expected from a lower cruise speed.

BTW, Wikipedia, FWIW, says the A320 ceo can be ETOPS certified for 180 minutes.

Key word here is "can be" (ok, key wordS). Meaning the type is capable of it, but the airline, as operator, must obtain the necessary permissions anyway. I suppose the type certification imposes a limit. That is, an A320 can be certified ETOPS for 180 minutes, but not for longer.

For the JFK-LHR route, it's plenty.

The thing is engines rarely fail, the two recent incidents in Vegas to the contrary notwithstanding. Losing 2 engines in flight is incredibly rare, aside from things like lack of fuel or some kind of foreign substance getting into the engines. Water won't usually do it. But there was a case of a plane which lost all engines due to volcanic ash. As I recall, they were able to restart them all. These days planes steer clear of active volcanoes.

Quote: Nareed

If I'm reading this right, a plane flying JFK-LHR will almost always be within 120 minutes from either airport.

If the actual flight time is 5:16 that would mean only 1:16 when you are not within 2 hours of the origin and destination airport. That is an extreme speed and normal flights are 5:30-8:30 depending on direction.
But Goose Bay Canada, Kangerlussuaq Airport Greenland, and Lefavike airport have fairly large 2 hour circumferences. Also there is Gander, Halifax, Shannon, and Cork airports .

Quote: Pacomartin

If the actual flight time is 5:16 that would mean only 1:16 when you are not within 2 hours of the origin and destination airport. That is an extreme speed and normal flights are 5:30-8:30 depending on direction.
But Goose Bay Canada, Kangerlussuaq Airport Greenland, and Lefavike airport have fairly large 2 hour circumferences. Also there is Gander, Halifax, Shannon, and Cork airports .

With a 180 minute ETOPS there's simply no problem, even if some of these airports are not on 24/7.

Sure, you can land at a closed airport, but usually they close for good reason. besides, without any tower communication, you won't know whether there may be obstructions on the runway. The Air Canada Glider got very lucky no one on the ground was killed.