AA accidentally flies non-ETOPS A321 LAX-HNL

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09-18-2015, 01:45 PM

TheFly

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AA accidentally flies non-ETOPS A321 LAX-HNL

Oops: American Accidentally Flies Wrong Plane To Hawaii - One Mile at a Time

Oops: American Accidentally Flies Wrong Plane To Hawaii
Submitted 6 days ago
American has sub-fleets of both ETOPS and non-ETOPS A321s. In other words, some are certified to fly under ETOPS conditions (ie, over oceans), while others aren’t. And it’s important for airlines to get that right. Well, it seems like on August 31, 2015, American didn’t get that right. On that day, American flew a non-ETOPS A321 — with tail number N137AA — from Los Angeles to Honolulu. (onemileatatime.boardingarea.com) More...

09-18-2015, 06:42 PM

mosteam3985

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Okay, I'm going to show my total ignorance here...

How do they get it back to the mainland?

edit: Yes I realize they fly it back, how do they get it back LEGALLY?

09-18-2015, 06:50 PM

Adlerdriver

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Quote:

Originally Posted by mosteam3985

Okay, I'm going to show my total ignorance here...

How do they get it back to the mainland?

edit: Yes I realize they fly it back, how do they get it back LEGALLY?

Probably just ferry it back empty, part 91.

09-18-2015, 07:23 PM

mosteam3985

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I see. Thanks!

09-18-2015, 07:35 PM

TheFly

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I don't know how heavy they were, but it made it, head winds and all. Yep, they ferried the plane back to the mainland.

09-18-2015, 10:10 PM

satpak77

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Wow the news channels must be bored and with no murders or car chases to report

09-19-2015, 03:51 AM

Adlerdriver

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Quote:

Originally Posted by TheFly

I don't know how heavy they were, but it made it, head winds and all. Yep, they ferried the plane back to the mainland.

What does their weight or headwinds have to do with flying a non-etops bird to HNL?

09-19-2015, 08:09 PM

rickair7777

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What he said^^^

09-20-2015, 02:53 PM

cloudroller

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Heavier planes don't fly as far. The 321 probably does not have the endurance to do the flight at max gross. I don't know why you would be at max gross on a ferry flight

09-20-2015, 03:32 PM

#10

Adlerdriver

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Quote:

Originally Posted by cloudroller

Heavier planes don't fly as far. The 321 probably does not have the endurance to do the flight at max gross. I don't know why you would be at max gross on a ferry flight

ETOPS has nothing to do with the capability of the airplane to fly a certain distance. You could have two identical A321s and one is an ETOPS aircraft and one is not.

ETOPS has to do with the overall airframe and engine certification, the airline's operation and maintenance procedures and specific equipment on the aircraft.

So, there was never any issue with this particular aircraft being able to complete it's flight. It just wasn't specifically certified to do what it did.

You wouldn't be at max gross on a ferry flight.