On-Schedule Cert Received 7 August 2007... "7-8-7"
The Rolls-Royce Trent 1000, launch engine for the Boeing 787
Dreamliner, has received its airworthiness certification on
schedule... and just 18 months after the engine's first ground
run.
The occasion was marked Tuesday (07.08.07, in the European
dating system) by a special ceremony at Rolls-Royce in Derby, UK,
at which the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) handed over the
engine's airworthiness certificate, which clears the Trent 1000 to
power the Dreamliner’s first flight later this year. The
Trent 1000 also received FAA certification at the same time...
becoming the first engine to be validated concurrently by EASA and
the FAA under the latest regulatory procedures.
Including business yet to be announced, orders have been placed
for over 500 Trent 1000 engines by 15 operators and five leasing
companies – approximately half the Boeing 787 customers who
have made an engine decision.
"The Trent 1000 continues to set the pace on the 787 program
-– first engine to run and first to be certified," said Mike
Terrett, President – Civil Aerospace. "Going forward, it will
be first to fly on the 787 and first to take the Dreamliner into
service.
"This is another proud moment for everyone who watched our
engine sharing the spotlight at the 787’s recent Premiere in
Seattle," he continued. "It is an important day, not only for the
team at Rolls-Royce, but also for our colleagues at Boeing, our
programme partners, suppliers, and, of course, our customers.
"Focus now turns to the first flight of the 787, and beyond
that, to ensuring a smooth entry into service with launch customer
ANA (All Nippon Airways) when they begin commercial flights next
year."
Mike Bair, Vice President and General Manager of the Dreamliner
program, told Boeing employees at a parallel event in Seattle:
"Three years ago the joint Boeing and Rolls-Royce team got together
and laid out a program from first test run to engine certification.
Through your hard work and dedication you have found a way to
achieve those critical milestones on time. It brings us one step
closer to the day we’re all eager for -- the
Dreamliner’s first flight."
Nine development engines have been used in ground testing, and a
further ten will support flight testing on four 787s. Delivery of
production engines to Boeing will begin in the first quarter of
next year.
And speaking of the Dreamliner's first flight... that event is
scheduled to occur sometime before the end of September. Stay
tuned.