Rolls-Royce Reports Asian Business Revival

Asian Aerospace 2000 -- With clear evidence that Asia's economic recovery is gathering momentum, Rolls-Royce chairman Sir Ralph Robins told an Asian Aerospace 2000 press conference yesterday that "We are seeing a confidence driven by realistic expectations of business growth. Asia will continue to offer significant opportunities across the breadth of our product range, and Rolls-Royce intends to build on its strong position in civil aerospace, defense, marine and energy markets. We are now established as the world's No 2 supplier of civil aero engines, and Asia Pacific accounts for around a third of our firm orders".

John Cheffins, RR managing director-airlines, said that the company's strategy continued to be built around the industry's broadest range of engines, from around 750 shp to 100,000 pounds of thrust. "We delivered around 200 engines a year in the 1980s. Last year, the figure was 1,080, while this year we expect 1,120, increasing to 1,200 in 2001", he added.

New civil and military orders for Rolls-Royce engines announced yesterday included business worth nearly $0.5 billion for 7,600-pound AE 3007 turbofans to power 100 Embraer regional jets for Continental Express.

Largest of recent contracts worth over $150 million for military aircraft is a $113.4 million order from the US Navy and the governments of Taiwan and France for RR Allison T56-A-427 turboprops to power new Northrop Grumman E-2C Plus Hawkeye AEW aircraft. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in June.

By John Fricker