I do have very great faith in the AAIB. Together with the support from FAA and Boeing, it is difficult to imagine more expertise being available for an investigation. So I do believe that the iceing scenario is accurate and correct. It does just somehow continue to bother me, however :
- Why has this never happened before during millions of longhaul flights in very cold conditions. Yes I know that there is always a first time for the holes in the Swiss cheese to align, but it still seems somehow improbable, logically speaking. Is the design of the RR Trent and FF so different from earlier designs and from GE/Pratt kit?
- Repeat question to the 777 experts. Have the earlier incidents of failure to deliver commanded thrust been adequately explained?