Rolls Royce clears Qantas A380 to LA
Thursday, 6 January 2011
Qantas has received permission from engine maker Rolls Royce to operate its A380s on the Los Angeles route at full load.
Thrust limitations put in place by the Rolls Royce last year prevented the Australian flag carrier from resuming flights to the US because it would mean flying fewer passengers and lighter cargo, The Australian reported.
The engine maker has since removed the thrust limitations and is confident it has resolved the manufacturing error which caused an A380 engine to disintegrate over Singapore last year.
“We have got advice from Rolls-Royce that they are comfortable to have the A380 operating to Los Angeles given the checks and technical analysis they’ve done on the engine,” Qantas spokesperson Olivia Wirth said.
Qantas said it expects to resume its A380 services to LA on 17 January but despite obtaining the go-ahead, the Australian flag carrier will need to receive permission to fly from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).
According to the source the airline has organised a meeting with CASA for later this week.
Source = e-Travel Blackboard