well isn't that just special. obviously forewarned about my impending trip back to the homeland, the NTSB has "queried" the safety of Boeing 777's outfitted with Rolls-Royce RB211 Trent 800 Series engines. Apparently the susceptibility of the engines to an ice build up in the fuel line has been deemed responsible for two recent 'rollback events' in which the engines have just cut out - leaving the crew to perform one-armed handstands and voodoo rituals in order to keep the planes in the air. checking my flight reservations i see that will have the distinct pleasure of being captive in this model on both flights over the atlantic - though it remains unclear whether united's version of the 777 sports the error prone engines. all aboard!
update: some friendly folks over at flyer talk have assured me that united's 777 fleet are all outfitted with Pratt & Whitneys. now i can return to the usual list of anxieties and irritations that accompany a transatlantic flight.
The very name Rolls-Royce conjures up luxuriant images of elegance and class. The ice build-up is one of many distinctive features that are available when you want the very best.
Hey, what's this about a return to the Motherland? Any NYC stop-overs planned?
Posted by: otto mannix | 14 March 2009 at 15:40