Enginemaker Rolls-Royce kicked off its Farnborough '98 participation with announcements of a healthy influx of new business for both its civil and military divisions. The decision of U.S. commuter line Continental Express to exercise its options on an additional 25 Embraer ERJ145 regional airliners will be worth some $125 million to the Derby firm.

The Continental Express order raises to 75 the number of ERJ145s to which it is committed, while retaining options on a further 125 aircraft. The continuing Embraer business is a clear indication of Continental's satisfaction with the AE3007, the sole engine available for the Brazilian short-hauler, said Dr. Al Novick, the Rolls executive who looks after corporate and regional airline.

Other deals RR disclosed yesterday were:

• A $36-million contract for engines to power a further two Boeing 757-200 aircraft for American Trans Air. The order includes one spare engine to be delivered in November this year, with the substantive four RB211-535E4s, each of 40,100-pound-thrust, to follow for the two new-build aircraft to be delivered in September and November next year.

• A contract from Qantas, value undisclosed, to upgrade the RB211-524 engines of its 18-strong fleet of Boeing 747-400s to the latest G/H-T standard. The order is in addition to the order announced in June for new RB211-524G/H-Ts for new-build 747s ordered by the Australian intercontinental carrier. When the upgrade program is complete, Qantas's entire 747-400 fleet will be powered by RB211-524G/H-Ts . The G/H-T standard incorporates technology "imported" from the Trent family by using the high-pressure system of the Trent 700.

• A contract for upgrading the Adour engines of the RAF's Jaguar ground attackers to the latest 106 re-heated standard from the current 104, which will improve reliability as well as giving up to 10% more power. The engineering work will be done at Rolls' military engines plant at Filton, Bristol, while the upgrades will be done at the East Kilbride factory near Glasgow. The RAF maintenance unit at St. Athan will do the minor airframe modifications required for the Jaguar fleet. The first Adour 106 deliveries are scheduled for summer 2000, with the fleet upgrade program being spread over the next five years.

By Bob Rodwell