Rolls-Royce is confident that it can achieve engine commonality across the entire Boeing 787 family should the airframer give the go-ahead for a larger -10 variant.

R-R's Trent 1000 already powers the baseline -8 and stretched -9, certified to 74,000lb-thrust.

Simon Carlisle, Trent 1000 programme director, said that current discussions with Boeing indicate a thrust requirement of 74,000lb on the -10. He indicated that the powerplant could provide more thrust if required without a redesign, but "you get to a point where you start to trade thrust for efficiency".

The engine manufacturer is also studying the performance and design of the in-development Trent XWB to identify what technologies to "pull back" on to the 1000.

Boeing is evaluating potential customer demand for the -10 before deciding on any launch.

Feedback has been "very positive", said the airframer.

Source: Air Transport Intelligence news