Rolls-Royce is warning of further disruption to Boeing 787 operators after disclosing that it will be conducting expanded inspections of certain Trent 1000 engines.
The inspections affect Trent 1000s with the Package C compressor, and the engine manufacturer says 380 such engines are in service.
It says the new regime follows further insight into the durability issue affecting the compressors, and admits that the inspections will "unfortunately lead to additional disruption" for its 787 customers.
Rolls-Royce says the additional inspections, on top of those originally planned, are necessary following "further understanding" of the durability problem.
"These inspections will be supported by service management and flight operations guidance to airlines to be issued by the airworthiness authorities," it states.
It stresses that neither the Trent 1000 TEN powerplant nor the Package B version of the engine will be affected by the new inspections.
"Our focus is on supporting our customers and doing all we can to minimise any impact on their operations," says Rolls-Royce chief executive Warren East.
"We sincerely regret the disruption this will cause to our customers and our team of technical experts and service engineers is working around the clock to ensure we return them to full service as soon as possible."
It adds that it will work with Boeing and the 787 customers affected in an effort to reduce disruption.
Rolls-Royce recently highlighted the Trent 1000 durability issue, and the costs associated with addressing it, in a financial results disclosure.
It says, however, that the need for more regular inspections will result in higher cash costs that those in its previous financial guidance. Rolls-Royce intends to "mitigate" the additional expenditure by "reprioritising" some of its discretionary spending. Free cash flow guidance for the group over this year remains unchanged.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
