Airbus A330 fitted with Trent 772C engines approved for 180 min ETOPS

Airbus A330-243 and A330-343 fitted with new Trent 772C engines were approved for 180 min Extended-Range Twin-Engine Operations (ETOPS) on Thursday April 20th, 2006. The approval was granted by the new European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

The first aircraft fitted with these engines will be delivered to Air China by the end of May. The increased Take-off and Max Continuous thrust of these new engines provides improved aircraft performance in high altitude and hot day conditions.

The 180 min ETOPS Type Design approval at Entry Into Service recognises that Trent 772C engines are close derivatives of already ETOPS approved A330/Trent 772B models, and the significant ETOPS experience accumulated worldwide as well as the high reliability of A330 ETOPS operations.

All A330-200 and 300 models are currently approved for 180 min ETOPS by EASA. Since 1998, all newly certified A330 models have received 180 min approval at EIS (Entry-into-service).

As of today, 90% of A330 operators are ETOPS.

Airbus is an EADS joint company with BAE Systems.

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