Federal regulators are issuing strict new restrictions on Dreamliner flights fitted with some Rolls Royce engines.
The FAA directive takes effect Tuesday and more than halves the distance a Dreamliner flight can take from an airport it can divert to in the case of an emergency.
The affected jets cannot operate on a route more than 140 minutes from an airport.
Previously, it was allowed to be within 330 minutes of an appropriate airport able to handle a Dreamliner landing.
The directive affects 383 engines currently in service, Rolls Royce said.
That amounts to about 168 Dreamliners, which represents a quarter of the current global fleet.
Blade vibration in the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines can result in metal-fatigue and engine failure after ‘numerous reports of engine inspection findings of cracked blades,’ the FAA said.
It only affects 14 planes operated by US airlines, although routes to the US operated by Asia Pacific and European carriers could be significantly impacted.
Virgin Atlantic said 14 of its 16 Dreamliners are fitted with these engines, while its also affects Dreamliners in the Norwegian Air fleet, along with All Nippon Airways, British Airways and Air New Zealand.
Rolls Royce said it is redesigning parts for the engines and they will be available to airline customers by early next year.
