How does the regulation that certain planes have to always be within a 2-hour flight from an airport affect flight paths near the North Pole?

Recently or rather not so recently I read about a regulation (possibly FAA but I am not sure and possibly old) that the wide body jets have to always be within a 2 hour flight from an airport capable of receiving it, so in light of that has that regulation changed or simply being ignored by airlines when flying near North Pole for flights from New York to Beijing?

Best Answer

The Great Circle Mapper will show you ETOPS on the world map, along with the proper great-circle routes that planes fly.

For instance, New York to Hong Kong over the pole does go through a region that is outside of ETOPS-120 for a 410 knots plane -- it's the dark blue section of ocean. So they would either need to fly a route that avoids that patch, or be certified longer than ETOPS-120.

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Can planes fly over North Pole?

It isn't that planes can't fly over these polar regions, it's simply that there are technological, political, and logistical reasons preventing it. However, these limitations are being challenged, which could revolutionize air travel.

Why does the FAA require airplanes to stay miles apart in the sky?

In air traffic control, separation is the name for the concept of keeping an aircraft outside a minimum distance from another aircraft to reduce the risk of those aircraft colliding, as well as prevent accidents due to secondary factors, such as wake turbulence.

Why do planes not fly over the South Pole?

The polar regions interfere with magnetic navigational equipment, making it harder for planes to navigate. It can also be difficult for planes to connect with flight controllers because of the location's isolation.

Why Planes Fly Over The North Pole But Not The South Pole

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