satpak77
Marriott Platinum Member
- Joined
- Dec 2, 2003
- Posts
- 3,015
2 engines versus 1
guys the old twin versus single debate is as old as aviation itself. Largely a result of engine reliability and other things, to include "statistics", which lie when we want them to and are honest at other times.
When ETOPS was just a brain-child of someone, it was argued only DC-10's or L-1011's could cross the ocean, or 4-engine airplanes. 2-engines? Too risky
Even in times of war or troop movement, how many F-16's have dropped into the ocean because of engine failure?
How many engine failures have occurred on King Airs (due to mechanical problems, IE not fuel starvation)?
Very few.
The potential Pilatus operator needs to look at mission profile and assess the risks. If you are doing multiple ocean crossings, or Rocky Mountain crossings, maybe you want a twin, even just for the psycological comfort.
If night hard IFR is your main environment, maybe a twin.
If are not the above, and you mostly are daytime trips and sporadic night flights with of course "normal" IMC (occasional to minimums, more often 1000-2000 foot ceilings, sporadic icing, convective activity but you don't seek it out, etc), then a Pilatus would probably do just fine.
at one point in my life ("younger"), I flew hard IFR night freight in a single PISTON, like alot of us did.
guys the old twin versus single debate is as old as aviation itself. Largely a result of engine reliability and other things, to include "statistics", which lie when we want them to and are honest at other times.
When ETOPS was just a brain-child of someone, it was argued only DC-10's or L-1011's could cross the ocean, or 4-engine airplanes. 2-engines? Too risky
Even in times of war or troop movement, how many F-16's have dropped into the ocean because of engine failure?
How many engine failures have occurred on King Airs (due to mechanical problems, IE not fuel starvation)?
Very few.
The potential Pilatus operator needs to look at mission profile and assess the risks. If you are doing multiple ocean crossings, or Rocky Mountain crossings, maybe you want a twin, even just for the psycological comfort.
If night hard IFR is your main environment, maybe a twin.
If are not the above, and you mostly are daytime trips and sporadic night flights with of course "normal" IMC (occasional to minimums, more often 1000-2000 foot ceilings, sporadic icing, convective activity but you don't seek it out, etc), then a Pilatus would probably do just fine.
at one point in my life ("younger"), I flew hard IFR night freight in a single PISTON, like alot of us did.