The Trent 1000, developed for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner by global power systems company Rolls-Royce, has been granted Extended Twin Engine Operations (ETOPS) approval by the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA). This important milestone means that the Trent 1000 is the first engine for the 787 to have ETOPS certification, a critical step towards entry into service.

ETOPS regulations cover the design, specification and operation of twin engined aircraft on routes where an aircraft will be more than one hour’s flying time on one engine from a suitable and available airfield. The Trent 1000 has been granted 330 minutes ETOPS approval. This allows more direct routings, shorter flight times and thereby reduced fuel consumption.

Rolls-Royce has now delivered Trent 1000 engines to Boeing to support 787 Dreamliner test flights for ETOPS approval of the engine/aircraft combination. At the same time, the company has delivered engines for the first All Nippon Airways (ANA) 787 Dreamliner, to go into passenger service later this year.

Simon Carlisle, Rolls-Royce, Trent 1000 Programme Director, said: “ETOPs approval marks a major milestone for the Trent 1000 programme, setting new industry standards. 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. We now look forward to supporting Boeing’s own ETOPS programme and to powering the 787 Dreamliner’s entry into service with All Nippon Airways.”

The Trent 1000, which ran for the first time in 2006, was granted FAA certification in August 2007, and has amassed more than 10,000 hours of ground and flight tests.

The Trent 1000 powered the 787 Dreamliner’s first flight in December 2009 and has since powered 80 per cent of all test flights. The engine powers five out of the seven aircraft in the 787 flight programme.

The Trent 1000 also recently passed 2,800 hours of flight testing, accounting for the majority of the 787 Dreamliner flight test programme.

Flight test details

Total Boeing 787 Dreamliner flight test hours: 3,660
Trent 1000 787 Dreamliner flight test hours: 2,874 (79 per cent)

Total Boeing 787 Dreamliner flights 1329
Trent 1000 787 Dreamliner flights 1064 (80 per cent)

Rolls Royce press release