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.

FMI: www.rolls-royce.com/trent1000, www.boeing.com