The Federal Aviation Administration has approved today Boeing’s design for modifications to the 787 battery system.
The changes that have been proposed are designed to address risks at:
- The battery cell level
- The battery level
- The aircraft level
This is a step closer, returning the 787 fleet to flight.
Next week, airline operators will have instructions from the FAA s for making changes to the aircraft. These will be published in the Federal Register – the final directive that will allow the 787 to return to service with the battery system modifications.
When published, the FAA will require airlines that operate the 787 to install containment and venting systems for the main and auxiliary system batteries, and to replace the batteries and their chargers with modified components.
The FAA will be keeping a close eye on the installation of modifications to the United States based 787 (currently held by United Airlines), with the FAA inspecting the changes
Any plane that wishes to return to service in the USA will only be allowed to after the FAA accepts the work.
For operating carriers beyond the United States, the FAA will support other aviation authorities as they prepare to to complete their own acceptance and re-entry into service procedures.
50 Boeing 787’s have been grounded since the 16th January 2013 after electrical issues with lithium-ion batteries powering the aircraft’s auxiliary power unit on two different aircraft.
FlightGlobal and ATW have a lot more analysis on the impact it will have.
Amazing that Boeing isn’t being forced to make these changes at their plants for consistency and at no cost to the airlines! I will be giving these planes a wide berth for a while until we have some good long term data on airworthiness.
@Stefan
Exactly.. I will give it like 5 years before I attempt to book a 787 operated flight.
It won’t really be the airlines making the modifications. It will be Boeing techs. But since the planes aren’t cleared to fly in the US, it’s impossible to fly them to Washington to have the mods done at the assembly plant. So Boeing techs will fly with the parts to wherever the planes are currently sitting.
Just like with the 777 and the A380 – I’m not flying one until at least a year of service!
they should have stuck with proven tek. of wet cell nicad packs.