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in my comment I assumed that gliding would imply a single engine failure

This assumption is the problem and grandparent was very correct to point out the obvious misunderstanding that would result.

Maybe this is the typical wording used by pilots, but to laymen gliding means something else.



This being a post about airliners crossing oceans, and ETOPS being thrown about - you'd expect people would know.

Without any power, airliners can't really glide much. Of the few cases of all-out engine failures, even fewer make it safely to land or water - most of which that did were at their cruising altitude at the time of failure. With only memorable exception being the hudson river ditch.

In-fact, during the landing or take-off, even a single engine failure can catch the crew off guard and is among the worst case scenarios pilots are "trained" for.


Without any power, airliners can't really glide much. ... most of which that did were at their cruising altitude at the time of failure

One great success story was, of course, the Gimli Glider:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gimli_Glider




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