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Federal Aviation Administration

Ask the Captain: Is a 737 too small to fly over an ocean?

John Cox, special for USA TODAY
The FAA requires very strict maintenance, operational and dispatch procedures for extended twin-engine operations. This type of flying has been successfully done for decades, proving the safety of the processes and the ability of the airplanes.

Question: My wife and I recently flew to Hawaii and were surprised to see that the plane was relatively small, a twin engine 737-800. Can that aircraft maintain altitude with a full passenger load if one of the engines were to go out? We were worried we may have had to swim home. In general what are the regulations for flights over large bodies of water?

-- submitted by reader Dave Gahage, Redwood City, Calif.

Answer: The 737 has been flying from the U.S. mainland to Hawaii for several years. It is a very capable aircraft for that route. With a full load of passengers, cargo and the necessary fuel on board, all jets will have to descend if an engine fails. This is calculated prior to departure and the diversion airports are assigned. On a flight from the U.S. mainland to Hawaii, the pilots know the point at which it is the same time to continue to the destination as to return to the mainland. This "equal time point" is calculated on every overwater flight.

The FAA requires very strict maintenance, operational and dispatch procedures for extended twin-engine operations. This type of flying has been successfully done for decades, proving the safety of the processes and the ability of the airplanes.

You don't have to worry about swimming home.

Q: What is the normal quantity of spare fuel for a transoceanic flight?

-- Georlette Bernard, Belgium

A: Different countries (regulatory agencies) have different requirements. At a very minimum, there is enough reserve fuel to fly to an approach at the destination airport, then to an alternate airport with 45 minutes of additional flying time.

John Cox is a retired airline captain with U.S. Airways and runs his own aviation safety consulting company, Safety Operating Systems.

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