Business & Tech
Boeing: 787 Dreamliner Should be Back in Air Within Weeks
GeekWire live-streamed a briefing in Tokyo Friday on the company's plan to prevent any fire or smoke from the Dreamliner's lithium-ion batteries with a steel protection layer. The FAA has approved Boeing's plan to test the new system.
The 787 Dreamliner could be back in the air within weeks weeks, Boeing Co. executives said Friday at a briefing in Tokyo on its plan to fix battery problems on the big airliner.
GeekWire live-streamed the briefing, during which Boeing CEO Ray Conner said the company is confident the new solution will eliminate all risk of fire or smoke coming from the plane’s lithium-ion batteries.
The Federal Aviation Administration grounded the company’s newest jetliner in January after several emergency landings in Japan due to overheating in the batteries.
Vice President of the 787 systems Mike Sinnett acknowledged Boeing had not pinpointed the cause of the issue, but said a new steel protection layer will eliminate the possibility of fires.
The FAA on Tuesday approved Boeing’s plan to test the new system. The 787’s final assembly is done at the Boeing Everett plant, withe assembly is also taking place at a plant in North Charleston, South Carolina.
For the GeekWire post, click here.
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