This new General Electric GE90-powered Continental Airlines Boeing 777 had to carry out a precautionary diversion following a starboard engine low oil-quantity alert during a transpacific extended range twin engine operations (ETOPS) proving flight for the airline. The aircraft, en route on a nonstop New York-Tokyo flight on 7 October, diverted to Chitose, northern Japan, with no engine damage. GE says no fault was found with the engine or oil system, oil consumption during the flight was normal and that the oil quantity alert operated as it should. Sources at Continental, which took delivery of the aircraft on 2 October, concede that insufficient oil may have been loaded.
Source: Flight International
