EMPLOYEES at the two Barnoldswick Rolls-Royce Aerospace sites were this week celebrating news of an order potentially worth half a billion pounds to the company.

The vital order was placed by British Airways, which has chosen Rolls-Royce Trent 895 engines to power its new fleet of twin-engined Boeing 777 passenger jets. The airline has placed a firm order for 16 aircraft, with an option to buy 16 more, and each will be powered by two of the world-beating Rolls-Royce Trent engines.

In financial terms the order is worth up to £580 million to Rolls-Royce, which will also be responsible for the lifetime support and maintenance of the engines. The first of the engines are due for delivery in the year 2000.

It is excellent news for the Barnoldswick plants at Bankfield and Ghyll Brow. They produce the wide chord fan blades for the Trent family of engines, plus other key components.

But it isn't just the financial value of the order which makes it so important. In placing it, British Airways - one of the world's leading and most influential airlines -- becomes the launch customer for the Trent 895 engine, a more powerful version of the successful Trent 800.

It is effectively a demonstration of faith in the new 895 version and could lead to many more airlines around the world following BA's example. The Trent 800 is already demonstrating industry leading levels of reliability in service on 39 Boeing 777 aircraft worldwide.

Pendle's MP Gordon Prentice, who lives in Barnoldswick, hailed the company's success in securing the crucial British Airways order.

Speaking after the announcement, he said: "We all know the Government has been a good friend to the aerospace industry and this relationship is now paying dividends. It really is splendid news for Barlick and for the whole industry."

Mr Prentice was able to see the giant new Boeing 777 for himself only last month when he visited the Farnborough International Air Show.

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