Although engine failure is extremely rare, it is no big deal should one of them ever
failed. The Boeing 777 is designed to fly for at least 3 hours on one engine for a distance of 1320 nautical miles or 2110 kilometers. That is further than from New York to Havana in Cuba.
Pilots have been checked every 6 months in even more adverse emergency conditions than just a simple engine failure. Basically, an engine failure merely require a diversion to a suitable airport and there are many such airports within the 3 hours range. However, most Airlines at the moment use 2 hours
for planning purposes, to fly on one engine should the need arise for an unforeseen
diversion. So if an engine fails within 850 nautical miles (2 hours flight) of your intended destination,
you may even arrive safely at your airport without any sweat !!
Question via email:
Dear Capt Kay,
I read your comments about flying with one engine. I was on a
Newark- Denver on a B777 yesterday that had the left engine failed on the
takeoff roll. We were just getting started so it was no biggie, but I wonder
what might happen if
we were past the point of stopping in time?
Thanks,
Bill
Hi Bill,
That was a very good question. All pilots have
been trained to recognize
at least three important speeds prior to take off, namely V1, VR and V2 .
V1 is the take off decision speed whereby if the
take off is continued
after an engine failure, it will be possible to continue the take off safely.
It is also the speed whereby, if the Captain abandoned the take off, it will
be possible to bring the aircraft to a safe stop within the remaining Runway.
VR is the rotation speed where the Captain begins to
rotate the aircraft to lift off attitude and climb away safely.
V2 is the Take Off Safety and Initial Climb Speed to
achieve a certain height at a certain distance.
I would not like to bore you with further related
technicalities but your question was, what might happen if you were past the
point of stopping in time? Well you are then above the V1 Speed (if I
interpret your question correctly) and the Captain's decision is to continue the
take off without any problem. He has to make a quick decision either to go
or no-go. ' Go' means continue after V1 and 'no-go' means abort the take off
before V1.
The Captain in the B777 you referred to must have
aborted the take-off before V1 and he was very sure he could stop within the
remaining Runway. So he would not have the problem of not stopping in
time. If he had made a bad decision that would not allow him to stop in
time, (depending on the length of the Runway), it would we quite
disastrous.
Anyway, the B777 is a very safe and comfortable
aircraft to fly as a passenger and all B777 pilots are checked on handling
engine failures and aborted take offs every six months.
I hope I have answered your question.
Have a safe flight always !
Capt Kay
Dear Capt Kay,
Thank you for a very interesting answer. So, a B777 CAN take off safely with only one engine then?
Thanks
Bill
Hi Bill,
Just a small clarification.. You don't plan to take off with one engine..
you only continue to take off with one engine PROVIDED the aircraft speed has
passed V1 (about 145 to 180 mph, depending on weight of aircraft) after an
engine failure!
Regards,
Capt Kay
