{"id":5110,"date":"2018-07-17T03:20:37","date_gmt":"2018-07-17T07:20:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/?p=5110"},"modified":"2020-05-07T12:39:53","modified_gmt":"2020-05-07T16:39:53","slug":"islands-of-the-south-atlantic-enroute-etops-and-diversion-options","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/islands-of-the-south-atlantic-enroute-etops-and-diversion-options\/","title":{"rendered":"Islands of the South Atlantic – enroute ETOPS and diversion options"},"content":{"rendered":"

Operating a flight across the\u00a0South Atlantic<\/strong> is complicated by very limited en-route diversion options.<\/p>\n

There are only really three airports worth considering between Brazil and Africa, south of the equator. All have their own complexities.<\/p>\n

Your three best bets:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Operational Considerations:<\/h4>\n
FHAW\/RAF Ascension Island<\/strong><\/h5>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"Wideawake Airfield (FHAW) is a military facility operated jointly by the USAF and the RAF. Under the terms of the joint agreement, only state aircraft are authorized to land at Ascension. A monthly RAF flight arrives from the UK and weekly USAF C17 movement occurs.<\/p>\n

We have also been advised by local authorities that \u201cthe runway is beyond its life cycle and we have imposed aircraft maximum weight limitations on its use to extend its operation\u201d.<\/p>\n

Because of these restrictions, passenger links to\/from UK were stopped<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n

To file as an ETOPS\/EDTO alternate or not?<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The official line is here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe US Air Force has agreed its airfields may be identified as ETOPS emergency landing sites for flight planning purposes. This is consistent with the policy that an aircraft can land at any US Air Force airfield if the pilot determines there is an inflight emergency that would make continued flight unsafe. However, we also understand there are published criteria for ETOPS airfields and our policy concerning emergency use is not agreement or certification that Air Force airfields meet those criteria. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Ascension Island is a remote location with resources (accommodations, medical, hangars, crash\/fire\/rescue, etc) limited to levels essential for support of assigned personnel and the military mission. The airfield is available \u201cas is\u201d for emergency use only as indicated above. Whilst FHAW may be declared as an alternate for ETOPS flight planning purposes<\/strong>, it cannot be used as a weather alternate, except for flights departing from or destined for St Helena.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

However!<\/strong> After we enquired with local authorities, we received the following response:<\/p>\n

“As this is a USAF military only field, it is not allowable to nominate as an ETOPS alternate.<\/strong> There are no lodging facilities here on the island, and there is only very limited medical capability.<\/p>\n

We will always accept an emergency divert<\/strong> and have done so in the recent past. Nomination as an alternate drives a set of requirements that we do not meet<\/strong> – hotel, medical, 24 hour operations, etc. Since we cannot meet those requirements, nomination is not allowed<\/strong>. If an aircraft were to experience and emergency and need to land, we would make do with what we have.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"\"As we have reported in the past, it can be costly to nominate enroute alternates<\/a> sometimes.<\/p>\n

Famously, a Delta 777 diverted to Ascension back in 2013<\/a> after experiencing engine troubles.<\/p>\n

Either way- it\u2019s another \u2018interesting<\/strong><\/em>\u2019 approach.<\/p>\n