Rolls-Royce is set to replace A380 engines
ROLLS-ROYCE is temporarily replacing engines on Airbus super-jumbos to fix a part that caused an engine on a Qantas jet to break up in mid-flight, it emerged yesterday.
The jet engine maker is thought to be planning to remove Trent 900 engines with the faulty component from Airbus A380s in service and to replace them with other engines while it renews the part. A Rolls-Royce spokesman refused to comment.
The news follows the incident on November 4 in which a Trent 900 on flight QF32 flying to Sydney from Singapore partially disintegrated.
The accident forced the jet to make an emergency landing in Singapore.
Rolls said the failure of the part inside the Trent 900’s turbine caused an oil fire that damaged a disc inside the engine.
There are 80 Trent 900s in service on Airbus A380s run by Qantas, Singapore Airlines and German flag carrier Lufthansa.
Rolls said on Friday that the measures would mean underlying profits in 2010 would rise slightly less than the four to five per cent forecast in July.
Chief executive Sir John Rose said airlines would be able progressively to return the A380 fleets to service.
“We regret the disruption we have caused,” he said. Rolls-Royce shares closed last night down 14p at 597p.