Question About Medium Haul CRJ Flights Over Water - Possible?

[BL]

Just wondering if anyone knew whether you could actually fly a CRJ over water, in real life.  For example, I have a SJC-ANC route that I use a CRJ900LR on.  It spends a good amount of time over water, but I'm not sure if this particular aircraft carries life rafts or is certified for over-water operation.

[Kazari]

Pinnacle did it in 2010.

http://centreforaviation.com/analysis/pinnacle-poised-for-coming-industry-contract-shifts-19958

[swiftus27]

See ETOPS.   

[BL]

Thanks

[schro]

Just wondering if anyone knew whether you could actually fly a CRJ over water, in real life.  For example, I have a SJC-ANC route that I use a CRJ900LR on.  It spends a good amount of time over water, but I'm not sure if this particular aircraft carries life rafts or is certified for over-water operation.

There's a variety of parameters that go into it. If you have no life rafts, then you've got to stay within X miles of shore (maybe 50?), but if you have rafts, you have a bit more leeway to fly over water as long as you're within some amount of flying time away from an alternate landing location. Once you get further then that, ETOPS applies...

[FORSBERC]

It also has something to do with the airline's dispatching ability. Domestic operations may not go X miles from shore or travel internationally. Flag operations must be used when flying over water X+1 miles from shore or internationally.

[FORSBERC]

There's a variety of parameters that go into it. If you have no life rafts, then you've got to stay within X miles of shore (maybe 50?), but if you have rafts, you have a bit more leeway to fly over water as long as you're within some amount of flying time away from an alternate landing location. Once you get further then that, ETOPS applies...

Even with life rafts, if the aircraft or airline does not have ETOPS or EROPS ratings above 60, the standard/ default range is 60 minutes.

[tcrlaf]

Even with life rafts, if the aircraft or airline does not have ETOPS or EROPS ratings above 60, the standard/ default range is 60 minutes.

Non ETOPS aircraft have flown over water for decades, they are just type-limited to how far offshore they can go. Northeast corridor to Florida is the best example of this.

[FORSBERC]

And those routes are 60 minutes from shore at their cruising speed. 60 minutes at jet speeds are around 500-600 nm.

EDIT: Technically, they are 60 minutes from a suitable airport. But the east coast has so many suitable airports, that this is essentially one and the same.

[swiftus27]

Non ETOPS aircraft have flown over water for decades, they are just type-limited to how far offshore they can go. Northeast corridor to Florida is the best example of this.

It has less to deal with whether or not there's water directly below the aircraft and more with bein able to limp to an airport on one engine    Double engine flameout is something that is extremely rare to begin with and the efficiency requirements for ETOPS ratings go to show how strict these standards are