Taiwan’s
China Airlineshas awarded
Rolls-Roycea contract to supply and service Trent XWB engines to power a fleet of 14 firm and six option Airbus A350 XWB twinjets.
The potential value of the business, which follows a letter of intent signed between the airline and Airbus in 2007, is $1.3bn (£680m) at engine list prices, with deliveries due to begin in 2015.
Final engine configuration and selection of technologies for the Trent XWB are scheduled to be completed by mid-2008, leading to the start of ground-testing in 2010. A flying test bed programme will begin the following year, followed by airworthiness certification and first flight on the A350 XWB in 2012.
According to Rolls-Royce, by the time the Trent XWB enters service, Trent series engines will have accumulated more than 75 million flying hours.
State of emergency declared after Baltimore bridge collapse
The Dali has bow thrusters as well, but azipods rather than a rudder give better manoeuvrability, but are probably way too expensive an alternative. What is scary is the fact that these huge vessels...