Airport Delays

[HiloJulie]

"Also keep in mind that these United flights turn right back around and go back to where they came from. "

Not if they divert to a different airport.

I was an AMT for 41 years and was ETOPS qualified but not on the 777. A predeparture check has to be accomplished by qualified AMT.  There wouldn't be anybody at ITO qualified on a United 777. Even engine oil would be a problem. Engine oil is pretty specific to certain engines and operators so the engine oil couldn't be serviced.

"turn around and go back to California even if the plane is up to 2/3’s of the way to Hawaii."     

It's 1/2 way where it would turn around, depending on the reason the airplane would probably run out of fuel if it turned around at 2/3rd.
If an ETOPS plane has an engine failure it is mandatory that it land at the closest airport. That's Hilo and every time that happens the airplane is here for at least a week until the proper equipment and personnel are flown in.  keep in mind that these United flights turn right back around and go back to where they came from.

I could go on all day with dozens of reasons why it was better to go to HNL or OGG.

You know what would make this banter go more smoother and have more benefits for the readers?

Reading a persons entire post instead of replying to only one snippet of that post.

Clearly, you missed the part of my post about diverting to Hilo where I said that United would send the Kona crew over to Hilo. That would include the required AMT’s. 

Also, the part about these United flights turning around and going back to where they came from, in this particular case, BOTH the diverted 777 and 737 “puddle jumped” from Oahu and Maui to Kona and returned to Denver and SFO. 

As for you going on and on about ETOPS I am sure you could. The distance from California to Hawaii is the longest overwater flight path with no ditch point other than California or Hawaii. As such, as well as the curvature of the earth and those nasty jet streams, any flight from California to Hawaii that suffers an engine out or some other emergency would return to California up to the 2/3’s of the way point, most likely going to SFO. And yes, if at the time of the emergency, past that 2/3’s point, Hilo would be the go place. 

Believe it or not, SFO is closer to Hawaii than LAX!

Interesting read:

https://www.sawyeraviation.com/what-is-t...d%20Hawaii.