Originally Posted by
aldonite7667
ETOPS is mostly Mx tracking. You are talking about oceanic flying. It is modestly more difficult and 90% of that is planning; which the dispatcher does. It’s only “flying to the moon” if you’ve never done it. The skill can be learned in 2 segments.
Of course it isn't rocket science, but it is different, and it does require more attention to detail and maintaining situational awareness than flying from JFK to DEN. Frankly, it will probably cost more to maintain a sub base than to just train everyone in the base, because if the whole base can do it, then you don't need any additional pilots.
Maybe once we have been flying there a few years the requirement for a sub base will change?