Rolls Royce 1000 Trent engines get ETOPS approval from FAA

Aerospace major Rolls-Royce has announced that its Trent 1000 engine for Boeing's 787 Dreamliner has received 330-minute Extended Twin Engine Operations (ETOPS) approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The approval means the engine is certified to fly up to 330 minutes away from the nearest airport.

"ETOPS approval marks a major milestone for the Trent 1000 program," Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 programme director Simon Carlisle said in a statement, adding, "We now look forward to supporting Boeing's own ETOPS program."

This means Rolls Royce must separately complete extended flight tests for the engine in combination with the Dreamliner aircraft to win ETOPS approval. Those flight tests will commence soon.

The Trent 1000 recently passed 2,800 hours of flight testing.

The ETOPS approval will allow operations on long-range ocean and polar routes. It marks an important milestone toward delivery of the first 787 to launch customer All Nippon Airways (ANA), scheduled for the third quarter.

''We have produced the quietest and lightest engine for the aircraft, with the lowest fuel burn over the lifetime of an engine, contributing to the 787's target of delivering 20 per cent less CO2 than previous generation aircraft,'' Carlisle said in a news release. ''We now look forward to supporting Boeing's own ETOPS program and to powering the 787 Dreamliner's entry into service with All Nippon Airways.''

Rolls-Royce noted that it has delivered the Trent 1000 engines for the first 787 set to be delivered to ANA.

Boeing also offers GEnx engines for the 787, which will feature on the orders for Japan Airlines.(See: Boeing wins first 787 Dreamliner orders for the year)