I think what you're saying hinges on a lot of things you're not addressing, like what your FOM says, what your POI's view on the issue is, etc. etc.
I must be losing it, I agree with jtrain on this one. 36 NM in a brasilia (even single engine) is what, 10-15 minutes? If the good one is still running well (not saying this was the case) and you can maintain a safe altitude (again, maybe that wasn't the case), yadda yadda yadda, why not do it? I mean even if just for the fact that SLC is going to have much more suitable emergency equipment than Podunk, UT. *shrug* then again I don't fly for a living any more.I I also think that if the engine was secured and feathered with no indication that anything else was going wrong (I don't know if this is the case), then landing at an airport that has no airline service at all, that is 36nm short of your companies largest hub, might not end up with desirable results for the crew. Now is it a BAD result? I don't really know. Is it really that hard to have Skywest truck a few mechanics and possibly and engine down to Provo? No, probably not.
Salt Lake has two In-N-Out Burgers now (Draper and West Jordan), adding a third in West Valley soon. The West Jordan one is right next to U42 (now called "South Valley Regional Airport")."That track looks like they were like, "GTFO! The engine failed? CRAP! I really wanted to go eat some In and Out in Saint George,
Isn't that where Skywest is headquartered at?
John, come on dude, that has no impact whatsoever on this scenario. You are now a single engine emergency aircraft and your mission, as decreed by the gods known as the FAA is now to land at the nearest suitable airport. There are none, zero, zilch, nada, maru, cero, <insert other foreign language word for 0 here>, other concerns. The company desires have no say in the matter. Mr. Fed will see to that. The only thing a thought to where the company might like you to put your emergency aircraft that is not the nearest suitable aiport will get you is likely a suspension of your licenses at a minimum.
Then ya'll should be lynching this captain for overflying what? 5 airports on his way to SLC? 5,000' of pavement is certainly enough for a Bro to get in.
There's a story about a crew that had an irregularity in flight, maintenance convinced them to return to base instead of the nearest suitable airport as directed by the checklist and now the crew is facing enforcement action from the FAA. This is real.
The captain makes the decision and will be held solely responsible. Well, and the FO too because the Feds issue violations in pairs.