Modern Airliners Designed to Fly Safely with One Engine

Air travel remains one of the safest ways to travel, with incidents so rare that each airline accident becomes global news. But many passengers wonder what would happen if their flight lost an engine. The reassuring news is that modern airliners are fully capable of flying with just one engine.

Today’s aircraft are designed with redundancy in every critical system, from electronics to hydraulics, ensuring they can operate safely even if one component fails. This design philosophy extends crucially to engines. Twin-engine planes, which are standard for both domestic and international flights, must demonstrate during certification that they can take off, climb, cruise, and land safely with one engine inoperative. This capability is a fundamental requirement from aviation regulatory bodies worldwide.

If an airliner does lose an engine, the aircraft will experience reduced performance; it won’t fly as high or as fast, and it will likely need to divert to the nearest airport. However, it won’t just drop out of the sky. Pilots are extensively trained for such one-engine scenarios, which include maintaining control of the aircraft, assessing the situation, and executing a safe landing.

Historically, even four-engine airliners like the Boeing 707 and the DC-8 were built with redundancy to ensure they could continue flying if an engine was lost. As engine technology has advanced, airliners have shifted to two engines without compromising safety, thanks to stricter Extended Twin-engine Operations Performance Standards (ETOPS) regulations. These rules ensure that twin-engine jets can operate routes that, at any point, are no more than a specified time from an emergency landing site.

In the event of an engine failure, the pilot’s training for such situations involves a sequence of steps: stabilize the aircraft (aviate), set a course for the nearest suitable airport (navigate), and communicate the situation to air traffic control. This drilled procedure ensures that even with one engine down, the aircraft can land safely, mitigating risks to passengers.

Thus, while the idea of an engine failure might seem daunting, the design and operation of modern airliners, coupled with pilot training and regulatory oversight, ensure that flying remains incredibly safe, even on the rare occasion that an engine fails.

Related news: https://airguide.info/category/air-travel-business/safety/

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, aerotime.aero