Quote:
Originally Posted by flames_fan_down_under
Does a pilot constantly update the nearest runways that can accommodate a Boeing 777 throughout a flight?
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Yes... it's good airmanship to know at all times what field you're diverting to if you have a problem. This is all established in your pre-flight prep by your dispatcher. You'll have 'equal time points', so say their first equal time point was half way across the Gulf of Thailand; prior to that point they'd turn back to Kuala Lumpur if they had a problem, and after it they'd continue to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (for example)
Even in easier in 777 with the new electronic flight bag (like all of Air Canada's) can do this automatically. They [maintenance] just program the EFB for the minimum length of runway they want the plane to land on, and the pilots will have a constant display of the closest suitable fields, and weather there. As far as I know, 9M-MRO did not have an EFB, though the flight management computer can already do this anyway.
As for having waypoints to said airport lined up and ready to execute? I haven't heard of anybody doing it specifically. But could it be part of Malaysia Airlines' standard operating procedure? Not implausible. Anything to add, Ryan Cooke?