Airworthiness Certification

Rolls-Royce PLC
15 December 2000


ROLLS-ROYCE TRENT 500 GAINS CERTIFICATION AHEAD OF SCHEDULE

The Rolls-Royce Trent 500, the engine for growth versions of the Airbus
Industrie A340, was today (15 December) awarded airworthiness certification
two weeks ahead of target at the end of a three year development schedule. 

The achievement maintains a Rolls-Royce track record of meeting new programme
requirements on, or ahead of, time. The first version of the Rolls-Royce Trent
family to enter service, the Trent 700 on the Airbus Industrie A330, achieved
airworthiness certification to plan, while the Trent 800 for the Boeing 777
was ahead of schedule. 

Colin Smith, Rolls-Royce Director of Engineering, Airbus projects, said:
'Passing this important milestone ahead of plan is a tribute to the efforts of
the entire project team, suppliers and risk and revenue sharing partners. We
delivered the first set of engines early to Airbus Industrie and we're keen to
see the Trent flying on the new aircraft in Spring next year.'  He was
speaking at a ceremony at Rolls-Royce in Derby during which the Trent 500 Type
Certificate was handed over by Rex Riddington, head of the Civil Aviation
Authority's (CAA) propulsion department.

Ten customers have made firm and option commitments for 124 growth versions of
the A340 resulting in advance engine sales approaching $6 billion.

Seven Trent 500s have been involved in the certification programme
accumulating 2,500 hours of test bed running and completing 6,500 cycles, each
engine start and shutdown being defined as a single cycle.

A total of 350 rig and engine tests have been successfully completed,
including a 150-hour sequence of intensive engine running at maximum
temperatures, pressures and speeds equivalent to the demands of thousands of
hours of normal in-service experience. The programme has demonstrated that the
Trent 500 is meeting requirements, particularly in terms of emissions, noise,
engine weight and fuel performance. 

Rolls-Royce submitted 175 separate reports for CAA approval prior to the issue
of the Type Certificate. Cross-validation will now be sought from member
countries of the European Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) and subsequently
the American Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). 

A single Trent 500 has completed a 60-hour programme on Airbus Industrie's
converted A340-300 flying test bed, having made its maiden flight in June.
Flight testing involving three A340-600s and one A340-500 will take place
during 2001 and 2002. Service entry of the A340-600 with Virgin Atlantic is
scheduled for mid 2002 followed by the A340-500 with Air Canada in the fourth
quarter of the year. 

The Trent 500 is initially certificated at 60,000lb take-off thrust, allowing
significant margin for growth. In-service thrust ratings will be 53,000lb on
the ultra long range A340-500, and 56,000lb for the higher capacity -600
version.

For more information please contact:
Martin Johnson
Head of Communications - Civil Aerospace
Rolls-Royce plc
Tel:  [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Rolls-Royce website: www.rolls-royce.com