Rolls-Royce is inspecting Airbus A350-900-powering Trent XWB-84 engines after "unexpected wear" was found on intermediate-pressure compressor (IPC) blades in several engines nearing their first regular overhaul. The UK manufacturer disclosed the information ahead of an airworthiness directive from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, "to address any potential speculation which may result". Rolls-Royce says the issue was identified during "routine inspections" on a "small" number of engines with ages of four or five years. Noting that "currently just over 100 Trent XWB-84s" in that age bracket are in service, Rolls-Royce says: "We have inspected the majority of them and found signs of wear on an average of only one or two IPC blades in a minority of those inspected. We have also taken the precaution of sampling a number of younger Trent XWB-84 engines and have found no unexpected wear." The affected engines were approaching their first overhaul. "None of these engines have experienced any abnormal in-flight operation," says Rolls-Royce. "However, we are inspecting all other Trent XWB-84 engines of a similar service life as a precaution." The Trent XWB is the sole engine available for the A350. Trent XWB-84s are used on the A350-900, which entered service in 2015. The larger A350-1000, which entered service in 2018, is equipped with Trent XWB-97s. Rolls-Royce says the IPC blade issue can be addressed through "limited... additional work" during "existing shop visits". Noting availability of replacement parts and spare engines, the manufacturer stresses: "We do not expect this issue to create significant customer disruption or material annual cost." Chris Cholerton, president of the manufacturer's civil aerospace division, states that the Trent XWB-84 has achieved "unequalled on-wing reliability" and that engines nearing their first shop visit have required "no unplanned maintenance". He adds: "It is reassuring to see that our proactive inspection regime has enabled us to identify and swiftly address this issue and minimise any potential impact on our customers." Rolls-Royce has been severely affected by blade-durability issues on Trent-series engines, particularly the Trent 1000 – an option on the Boeing 787. There were widespread groundings of these long-haul aircraft as engines required unscheduled shop visits. The Trent 1000 issues included premature blade deterioration in the IPC and the intermediate- and high-pressure turbines.

Source: Cirium

Boeing’s commercial activity slowed to a trickle in July, when the company handed over just four jets and took in no new aircraft orders. Detailing its July activity on 11 August, the airframer also revealed eight new cancellations for the 737 Max, bringing the total for the month to 43. Those previously unannounced Max cancellations include two more jets axed by Avolon, five cancelled by prospective Canadian start-up Jetlines and one Boeing Business Jet removed by an unnamed customer. Avolon has already disclosed cancellations of about 100 Max jets. A total of 35 cancellations had already been announced in July: 20 from lessor Alafco and 15 from AerCap. The July performance reflects the troubled, pandemic-hammered state of the airline industry and ongoing travel restrictions, Boeing says. Those factors have spurred order cancellations and delivery deferrals and hindered the ability of customers to travel to the USA to receive new jets, it adds. “Although we are starting to see some air traffic recovery in some places, the industry as a whole continues to grapple with the impact of the virus,” Boeing says. “We continue to work with customers as they… evaluate their fleet requirements.” The four aircraft deliveries in July included one 767 Freighter, one 777F and two 787s. Boeing adds that the low level of July deliveries also reflects tweaks in “production timing”, meaning some have shifted from July into early August. In addition to cancellations, Boeing reduced its backlog by another nine 737 Max to align with “ASC 606” accounting adjustments. Though Boeing still holds contracts to sell those jets, the company does not expect the deals will close due to factors that can include the financial condition of the customers. With the four deliveries, 43 cancellations and nine downward accounting adjustments, Boeing’s backlog in July declined by 56, from 4,552 to 4,496 jets. To date, Boeing has delivered 74 aircraft: nine 737s (including NG and military variants), one 747, 15 767s, 11 777s and 38 777s. Boeing this year has booked 59 orders. But its net figure for 2020 is negative to the tune of 836 aircraft, owing to cancellations, accounting adjustments and order conversions.

Source: Cirium

Cathay Pacific's HK$11.7 billion ($1.5 billion) rights issue, made as part of a government rescue plan, has been oversubscribed. In a filing to the Hong Kong stock exchange on 7 August, after market close, the flag carrier disclosed that it had received offers for 3.43 billion rights shares, compared with the 2.5 billion offered, an oversubscription of 137%. In addition to the minority shareholders that exercised their rights, major shareholders Swire Pacific, Air China and Qatar Airways subscribed for all of the – respectively – 1.13 billion, 751 million and 250 million rights shares provisionally allotted to them under the rights issue. These represent approximately 45%, 29.99% and 9.99% of the total number of rights shares, respectively. The rights issue is the second tranche of a three-tranche HK$39 billion recapitalisation plan for the company. The first tranche was the issuance of HK$19.5 billion in preference shares to Aviation 2020 – a limited company wholly owned by the government – for an undisclosed stake. For the third tranche, Aviation 2020 will provide a HK$7.8 billion bridge loan facility to Cathay. The bailout marks the first time the Hong Kong government has stepped in to rescue a private company.

Source: Cirium