777: ETOPS Claims 1 Million Flight
Boeing 777: ETOPS Claims 1 Million Flights
Tue, 15 May '07
Boeing has a million reasons to crow about their B777 ETOPS capabilities. They have confirmed to ANN that the 777 jetliner fleet has completed its 1 millionth flight under ETOPS Regs. Based on reported and projected 777 fleet data, Boeing estimated the 1 millionth 777 ETOPS flight occurred on May 11.
"The 1 millionth 777 ETOPS flight is a result of our point-to-point product strategy to develop airplanes that fly people directly where they want to go," said Larry Loftis, vice president-general manager, 777 Program, Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
"Early in its development we set out on a deliberate path to make the 777 the first airplane to enter service ready to fly ETOPS routes."
Under ETOPS regulations, airplanes are allowed to fly long-distance routes that take far them from the nearest airport.
The 777 was designed specifically to have the reliability and redundancy to safely traverse those long-distance routes governed by extended operations rules. The 777 was also the first twin-engine airplane to fly routes over the new North Polar Routes between the U.S. and Asia that began in 2000.
"Following the success of 767 ETOPS flights, the 777 has further proven the safety and reliability of twin-engine airplanes for long-haul flights," said Loftis.
