Extended Range Twin Operations (ETOPS) Special Operating Rules Training Course

Course Outline

Aims

Special Operating Rules are not specifically defined in Airworthiness Requirements: the term Special Operating Rules is a collective one intended – for inconvenience – to embrace the following set of Rules:

• Extended range Twin Operations – ETOPS
• Reduced Vertical Separation Minima – RSVM
• All Weather Operations – AWOPS
• Minimum Navigation Performance Systems – MNPS

The rules require individual aircraft to be suitably configured – by design – and as such, the course cannot address individual aircraft system architecture it can only deal with the general concepts as they apply to any aircraft fleet.

Objectives

The objectives of the course are:

1. To familiarise delegates with the concepts underlying the rules as well as the rules themselves and to assist operators in the setting of policy and procedures for the effective airworthiness management of applicable aircraft.

Key Topics

The key topics of the course are:

ETOPS

• EASA AMC 20 – familiarisation of the ETOPS related aspects of the AMC
• Definition of ETOPS – where the term derived from and its meaning in terms of aircraft operation
• In flight Shut-Down (IFSD) concepts and management
• Propulsion Systems Reliability Board (PSRAB) – function and operation of the board
• Responsibility of the State – the role of the National Aviation Authority in setting rules
• Operator Policy and Procedures development requirements – what the operator is required to do by way of development of policy and procedures for the continued airworthiness management of aircraft
• Operator reliability and problem tracking – what is expected of the operator by way of reliability procedures and event monitoring
• Configuration Maintenance and Procedures (CMP) documents – the purpose and management of the document and its importance to the operator
• ETOPS maintenance and continued airworthiness management requirement – what is expected of the operator
• ETOPS fuel management – ground operations management of fuel up-loading in an ETOPS environment requires awareness

RSVM

• RVSM – Requirements – what they are and where they are to be found including ICAO, EASA JAR OPS
• Responsibility of the State – the NAA has to be set regulations – where they are and what the regulations say
• RVSM definitions – relevant definitions relating basic and full range envelope
• RVSM systems requirements
• Altimetry System Error (ASE) – what is it and what factors can affect it
• System Component Maintenance and Continued Airworthiness Management – what needs to be done to protect RVSM integrity
• Airframe effects – cross-coupling effects from the airframe
• Instructions for Continued Airworthiness – where are they to be found and what are the implications for RVSM approval
• Aircraft Manuals – the relationship between the aircraft manuals and RVSM approval explained
• Operator Policy and Procedures – guidance on the production of policy and procedures for the operator with RVSM approval

AWOPS

• AWOPS Requirements – what they are and where they are to be found
• Aircraft Systems – a brief overview of the cross-coupling between systems for an AWOPS configured aircraft
• Maintenance Requirements – AWOPS brings with it maintenance and Continued Airworthiness Management requirements relating to operator policy and procedures
• Reliability Monitoring – AWOPS approval requires special provisions to be put in place for reliability monitoring purposes
• Affected aircraft documentation – characteristics of aircraft manuals for an approved aircraft

MNPS

• MNPS Requirements – what they are and where they are to be found including ICAO documents and JAR OPS
• MNPS Systems – which aircraft systems are affected by MNPS and hence require dedicated maintenance and continued airworthiness management provisions
• Reliability monitoring – MNPS requires provisions to be made in the event/reliability monitoring procedures
• Aircraft Documents – MNPS approval affects the aircraft documents

Materials

All Avisa’s courses are highly practical and include numerous exercises which are specific to the trainees’ needs and focus on their relevant job function.

Related AVISA Courses

CAAI EASA Part 145 Maintenance Organisation Approvals
CAAI EASA Part M Continued Airworthiness for Commercial and Non Commercial Operators