T7 in TNCM?
What I accidently omitted from my first email was: Effective February 15, 2007, the FAA ruled that US-registered twin-engined airplane operators can fly over most of the world other than the South Polar Region, a small section in the South Pacific, and the North Polar area under certain weather conditions provided that the inflight shutdown rate is 1 in 100,000 engine hours. This limit is more stringent than ETOPS-180 (2 in 100,000 engine hours). Not sure what "certain" weather conditions they actually mean. Probably headwind restrictions. Since this is FAA rules, I am not sure what guidelines EU operators have.
The shortest distance, great circle route EGLL-MKJP is about 4700nm and quite far north of the EGLL-TNCM route - which is about 4100nm.Interesting. I did not know that. Maybe they take more of a northerly route and come down the atlantic routes offshore of the US but that would require alot more fuel burn.
The BA flight is a Gatwick to Kingston flight which lasts around 9 hrs so I doubt they use any route other than the norm
The EGLL-MKJP route splits the difference between the Azores and Newfoundland, but crosses very near Bermuda.
http://gc.kls2.com/cgi-bin/gc?PATH=MKJP ... MAP-STYLE=
The EGLL-TNCM route is very close to Flores in the Azores - and very far from Bermuda and anything else for a large part of the trip.
http://gc.kls2.com/cgi-bin/gc?PATH=TNCM ... MAP-STYLE=
Guys,
777s can fly all over the globe. Air New Zealand even recently fly south pole, United and American operates loads of transpacific ETOPS flights much longer than transtlantic flights. Way before the 777 it was 767s.
Reggie, the routes may change everyday, according to the winds and to the daily NAT track strucure. Also, depending on the available suitable ETOPS alternates.
I'll try to investigate more, but the only reason why the 777 could possibly be forbidden at TNCM is its weight. (two main gear only versus 4 on the 747s and A340s), which means the runway and taxiways cant support it. It has nothing to do with 777 performances.
777s can fly all over the globe. Air New Zealand even recently fly south pole, United and American operates loads of transpacific ETOPS flights much longer than transtlantic flights. Way before the 777 it was 767s.
Reggie, the routes may change everyday, according to the winds and to the daily NAT track strucure. Also, depending on the available suitable ETOPS alternates.
I'll try to investigate more, but the only reason why the 777 could possibly be forbidden at TNCM is its weight. (two main gear only versus 4 on the 747s and A340s), which means the runway and taxiways cant support it. It has nothing to do with 777 performances.