FAULTY Rolls-Royce engine blades are deteriorating faster than expected, prompting additional groundings of Boeing 787 Dreamliners for repairs, reports Bloomberg
FAULTY Rolls-Royce engine blades are deteriorating faster than expected, prompting additional groundings of Boeing 787 Dreamliners for repairs, reports Bloomberg. Trouble was discovered on 120 Trent 1000 turbines, or eight per cent of the global fleet, and some 40 Dreamliners are currently grounded for immediate attention.
Air safety regulators will publish a formal requirement for repairs in coming weeks, said the person familiar with the situation, who asked not to be identified.
Rolls-Royce determined the part's shorter life-span when Air New Zealand Dreamliners suffered in-flight turbine damage on successive days last December.
The engine flaws have caused Rolls-Royce to post GBP1.3 billion (US$1.5 billion) in charges, also blighting the name of Boeing's most advanced model, leaving airlines rushing to find replacement aircraft for long-haul routes.
Air New Zealand CEO Christopher Luxon told shareholders that the engine problem, while not a safety issue, is the 'biggest operational challenge' that has had a huge impact on his network and customers.
Air New Zealand said it will cost the airline as much as NZ$40 million (US$26 million) in the current financial year.
Japan's ANA Holdings, which has 65 Dreamliners, is in the process of replacing the affected blades and will wrap up talks with Rolls-Royce over compensation by March.
