Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines powering the Boeing 787 Dreamliners operated by Japan’s largest airline All Nippon Airways (ANA) have now completed 4000 flying hours in just five months of revenue service with a record 99.9% despatch reliability. This means less than one in 1000 flights has experienced a delayed departure due to an engine issue.

“These are the best ever reliability figures for a Rolls-Royce Trent family engine on entering airline service,” said Peter Price, Rolls-Royce, Director Engineering & Technology – Civil Aerospace. “This achievement underlines the maturity we sought to build into the Trent 1000’s operational performance right from the start of the programme and which was proven in the testing and certification programme we completed last year.”

The Trent 1000 powered the Boeing 787 Dreamliner’s first flight in December 2009 and entered service with ANA on October 26, 2011.

“Our Trent 1000 engines have enjoyed an excellent operational performance since their entry into service with ANA in October last year,” said Mitsuo Morimoto, ANA’s Senior Executive Vice-President – Flight Operations. “During the following months, the joint ANA and Rolls-Royce teams have worked seamlessly together. The commitment Rolls-Royce has shown in the development and support of the Trent 1000 Engine gives us great confidence in the long-term success of our 787 Dreamliner operation.”

The Trent 1000, which ran for the first time in 2006, was granted Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) certification in August 2007. Rolls-Royce gained Extended Twin Engine Operations (ETOPS) approval from the FAA for the engine in May 2011. The Trent 1000 was granted 330 minutes ETOPS approval which allows more direct routings, shorter flight times and reduces fuel consumption and emissions.

The engine, the quietest and most efficient available on the 787 Dreamliner, has been selected in 8 of the last 9 787 Dreamliner engine decisions and now has a total of 24 customers.

Rolls Royce press release