BRITISH aircraft engine maker Rolls-Royce announced Tuesday that it had signed a US$100 million contract with China Eastern Airlines.The 10-year fleet hour agreement covers the Trent 500 engines powering the airline’s new fleet of Airbus A340-600s.A press release from the world’s second largest aero engine company said China Eastern Airlines has ordered five of the aircraft, which carry up to 380 passengers and have a range of 12400, allowing them to fly transpacific routes such as Shanghai-Los Angeles.Charles Cuddington, Managing Director of Rolls Royce, said that this is an important milestone because it signals the first Trent operation in China’s mainland.“It also extends a valued relationship with China Eastern Airlines and meets their requirement for fleet support at a predictable and fixed-rate cost,” he added.Fleet hour agreements are part of a broad range of total care packages, angled on time in service (hour age) of the engines, offered by Rolls-Royce.(Xinhua)