"Rolls-Royce Trent Engines Chosen For Singapore A3XX Super-Jumbos



Oct 14, 2000

Rolls-Royce has been confirmed as first engine supplier for the Airbus A3XX following selection of the Trent 900 by Singapore Airlines (SIA) for its new fleet of up to 25 aircraft. SIA will be the first operator of the A3XX in early 2006.

The decision means that the Trent 900 will be the lead engine for the joint certification program and will be the sole powerplant supplied for initial production of the A3XX.

The order, potentially worth around USD$1.5 billion, involves over 100 installed and spare engines. SIA has placed firm orders for ten A3XXs and has options on a further 15 aircraft. Deliveries are scheduled to continue through to 2011.

SIA Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Cheong Choong Kong said: "Having put all the relevant factors in the melting pot we decided Rolls-Royce had the edge."

John Cheffins, President - Civil Aerospace, for Rolls-Royce plc, said: "The excellent in-service record of the Trent 800 on SIA's Boeing 777s was an important factor in this decision. As the first airline to fly the A3XX, SIA's engine selection is particularly significant. They are recognized as an innovator which operates to the highest industry standards, and Rolls-Royce is proud to be chosen again to power their new generation widebody airliners."

SIA will operate the A3XX on high density routes including Singapore to London, Sydney, Hong Kong and New York.

The A3XX will join SIA's fleet of up to 61 Trent 800-powered Boeing 777s on firm order or option, 18 of which are currently in service. SIA has also ordered up to 10 Airbus Industrie A340-500s powered by the Trent 500 engine.

Rolls-Royce is also involved in the maintenance of Singapore Airlines' fleet of Trent-powered aircraft through its partnerships with SIA Engineering Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of the airline.

The Trent maintenance joint venture, Singapore Aero Engine Services Limited (SAESL), will open in 2002. The component repair joint venture International Engine Component Overhaul (IECO) commenced operations in 1998.

Preliminary design of the Trent 900 is now virtually complete and, subject to launch conditions being met, engine development will proceed with seven engines expected to join the program during its design and testing phases.

First engine run will take place in 2003 with flight testing scheduled to begin the following year.

The engine will be certificated at 80,000lb take-off thrust, though the initial in-service rating of the Trent 900 engine will range from 68,000 - 75,000lb of thrust.

By entry into service in 2006 the Trent 900 will draw on the experience of an estimated 15 million flight hours accumulated by the Trent family in service.

In its current configuration, the A3XX will have capacity to transport 550 passengers more than 7,650 nautical miles non-stop. The A3XX will be the largest passenger aircraft ever produced."