Part 135 Flight Planning from

Mainland to Hawaii

ETOPS OR NON-ETOPS?
Leo McStravick

Flight Operations
Appendix G to Part 135 starts 8/13/08

Many Part 135 Operators have voiced concerns

regarding whether Appendix G will require them to
seek ETOPS authorization in their OPSPECS in order
to continue flights from the West Coast to Hawaii.

Gulfstream has published two Operational Information

Supplements (OISs) – one for the G550 through the
G-IV models and the other for G-III and G-II models –
that provide guidance for evaluating routes with the
maximum diversion distance during 180 minutes of
single engine flight. Both OISs are available on
WAYPOINTS.
Using the ETOPS OISs information
Using the ETOPS OISs information
Using the ETOPS OISs information
KLAX (Los Angeles) to PHNL (Honolulu) – direct
distance is 2216 nm. Using Appendix G to Part 135
and/or the Information for Operators (INfo) from the
FAA (also available on WAYPOINTS), plan a flight in
still air in ISA conditions.
Using UNIVERSAL flight planning services to generate
a flight plan KLAX to PHNL with standard departure
and arrival routing adds 24 nm. to the direct
distance:
KLAX PRCH9 DINTY R576 DENNS MAGGI3 PHNL =
2240 nm.
Use a payload of 2000 lbs, standard 45 minute reserve
and fly Long Range Cruise
Using the ETOPS OISs information

G550: ETE 4+59 T/O 63,816 lbs LAND 52,249 lbs

With no wind the Equal Time Point (ETP) would be 2+30

at the midpoint of the route – 1120 nm. from either
KLAX or PHNL

Using the OISs conservatively (rounding weights up)

we find that the 180 minute single engine diversion
distance on takeoff from KLAX at 65,000 lbs is 1202
nm. and at the ETP at a weight of 60,000 lbs the 180
minute single engine diversion distance would be
1212 nm. and the 180 minute distance at an arrival
weight of 55,000 lbs at PHNL would be 1219 nm.
Using the ETOPS OISs information

1202 nm.

1219 nm.
Using the ETOPS OISs information

If we take the 180 minute diversion distance at takeoff

and add the 180 minute at landing:

1202 + 1219 = 2421 nm.

The enroute distance for the flight is 2240 nm., so the

180 minute circles overlap by: 2421 – 2240 = 181 nm.

Or, another way to view the data is to check the 180

minute diversion distance at the ETP – at 2+30 after
takeoff - gross weight would be (conservatively)
60,000 lbs. At that weight, the 180 minute distance
would be 1212 nm.
Using the ETOPS OISs information

X
ETP
Using the ETOPS OISs information

At the ETP the distance to either KLAX or PHNL is 1120

nm., and the 180 minute single engine diversion
distance is 1212 – so either airport is within range by
92 nm.

KLAX to PHNL – ETOPS rules do not apply!

Using the ETOPS OISs information

Look at the information on the other aircraft in the fleet

for this same route and conditions (2240 nm., No
Wind, ISA, 2000 lb payload, 45 minute reserve, Long
Range Cruise).

G450: ETE: 5+02, Takeoff Gross Weight 59,800 lbs.,

landing weight 46,927 lbs – at the ETP weight would
be (conservatively) 54,000 lbs. The 180 minute single
engine diversion distance at this weight is 1226 nm.,
and either airport is 1120 nm. away – so ETOPS rules
do not apply.
Using the ETOPS OISs information

G-V: ETE: 5+00, Takeoff Gross Weight 64,960 lbs.,

landing weight 52,234 lbs – at the ETP weight would
be (conservatively) 60,000 lbs. The 180 minute single
engine diversion distance at this weight is 1166 nm.,
and either airport is 1120 nm. away – so ETOPS rules
do not apply.

G-IV: ETE: 5+22, Takeoff Gross Weight 61,179 lbs.,

landing weight 47,220 lbs – at the ETP weight would
be (conservatively) 54,000 lbs. The 180 minute single
engine diversion distance at this weight is 1172 nm.,
and either airport is 1120 nm. away – so ETOPS rules
do not apply.
Using the ETOPS OISs information

G-III: ETE: 5+10, Takeoff Gross Weight 58,030 lbs.,

landing weight 43,640 lbs – at the ETP weight would
be (conservatively) 50,000 lbs. The 180 minute single
engine diversion distance at this weight is 1159 nm.,
and either airport is 1120 nm. away – so ETOPS rules
do not apply.

NOTE: data for a generic G-II flight plan for this route is
not available from Universal Flight Planning,
however, examination of the OIS information
indicates that only a G-II with Tip Tanks would have
difficulty meeting the 180 minute single engine
diversion speed criteria.
Using the ETOPS OISs information

There are options for Operators who cannot comply

with the 180 single engine diversion distance
requirements on the KLAX to PHNL route:

File to HILO (PHTO) – the distance is shorter 2,152 nm.,

a difference of 88 nm. Route: KLAX FICKY R578
FITES PHTO

Fly from KSFO to PHNL – the distance is 2,092 nm.

Route: KSFO BEBOP R464 BITTA MAGGI3 PHNL – a
difference of 148 nm.