The trigger for the checks was the failure of both engines on an Airbus A330-200 operated by Canada's Air Transat and flying from Toronto to Lisbon in Portugal.
Cpt Piche landed his Airbus safely after 120 miles without power
On 24 August, the aircraft's crew noticed a fuel leak in the right engine, which within minutes caused it to shut down.
About 13 minutes later, the left engine followed suit, leaving Captain Robert Piche to fly the plane 113 miles to the Azores, in the Atlantic Ocean about 900 miles from Portugal, without power.
He managed to land the plane, bursting nearly all its tyres but keeping it intact.
Of the 293 passengers and 13 crew on board, 11 people suffered slight injuries.
Downright frightening!
... leaving Captain Robert Piche to fly the plane 113 miles to the Azores, in the Atlantic Ocean about 900 miles from Portugal, without power.
All you commercial pilots out there, please help us civilians out.
I was under the impression that these flying bricks had a power-off glide ratio of around 10:1
That would imply a starting altitude of around 11 miles, or 58,000 feet.
What gives?