FAA approves Testing of Battery Fix 787

[Ansett]

For the sake of Boeing its customers and passengers lets hope that all goes well and thye have these aircraft rectified and flying again soon

FAA approves Boeing tests of battery fix

 

[samh004]

Considering the length of time it took (quite a few charge cycles I expect) before the original batteries had a problem, I'm not sure how they can accelerate the testing?

 

[oz_mark]

Doesn't really say what the proposed solution is, but I do hope it's one that deals with the problem (i.e. the fire), by preventing it, rather than trying to contain it in a firebox.

 

[NM]

This Air Transport World article has some more info:

FAA approves Boeing certification plan for 787 fix | ATWOnline

 

[samh004]

Doesn't really say what the proposed solution is, but I do hope it's one that deals with the problem (i.e. the fire), by preventing it, rather than trying to contain it in a firebox.

Other than the first 2 points, this might be what you wanted to hear? Basically, if something does happen, you wont know about it surely not knowing is much better than knowing

Third, in the unlikely event of a battery failure, we’ve introduced a new enclosure system that will keep any level of battery overheating from affecting the airplane or being noticed by passengers,” Conner said.

A key feature of the new enclosure is that it ensures that no fire can develop in the enclosure or in the battery, Boeing said.

 

[Blackbird]

According to Flight Global, the redesign involves a new battery charger, change in battery design with more space between the cells to reduce heat accumulation and a new enclosure designed to vent electrolytes externally in the event of a problem.
Boeing details 787 battery redesign, rebuts safety claims

Lots of ground testing but just one flight needed to get the necessary FAA approvals to resume flying.

Bit more here from Aviation Week:
Boeing Expects 787 Battery Tests To Be Completed In Weeks
At the end of all this, +150lb weight with the fix eliminating the weight advantage of Li-ion battery.

 

[Blackbird]

Boeing flight testing battery solution in progress.
Cookies must be enabled. | The Australian

Progress here
Boeing #272 Flight Tracker

 

[trooper]

As I am booked on NH's NRT-SEA flight mid-June.... and they have canned all of those up to 31 March... I still have my fingers crossed!!!

 

[Blackbird]

Might be in luck. Keep the fingers crossed.

Flight today went as planned.
Next is the certification flight possibly by the end of this week and then await FAA approval.

Boeing completes first 787 functional test flight | Components content from ATWOnline

 

[Blackbird]

Keep fingers crossed.

ANA reaffirms 787 route suspensions through May, but hopeful for June | Airports & Routes content from ATWOnline

 

[trooper]

Thanks for that!

 

[Blackbird]

Certification flight test on battery fix completed Friday US time.
Boeing Completes 787 Battery Certification Tests
Waiting on FAA approval.
Boeing engineers already in Japan to apply the fix when approved.

 

[Mal]

According to article ... expected return to service is June!

 

[samh004]

According to article ... expected return to service is June!

I assume that means full services for all, as the first plane shouldn't take more than a week with installation and pilot refreshers, surely?

 

[Mal]

I assume that means full services for all, as the first plane shouldn't take more than a week with installation and pilot refreshers, surely?

Maybe. Maybe not... depends on a lot of things.

 

[straitman]

At last the good news.


FAA Approves 787 Battery Fix


By John Croft [email protected]
Source: AWIN First

April 19, 2013
Credit: Boeing

The FAA has approved Boeing’s design modifications to the 787 battery system, a move that will allow the aircraft to reenter service once the changes are made to the fleet and verified by the FAA.

The approval, which will be official next week upon publication of a final directive and “instructions to operators for making the changes,” ends a three-month grounding of the widebody resulting from two incidents of smoke and fire from the 787’s lithium-ion battery systems.

Two weeks ago Boeing completed its final certification test for the redesign, which included containment and venting systems for the main and auxiliary system batteries, modified charging systems and new batteries. The FAA on April 18 granted Boeing permission to resume routine production ‘B-1’ flight testing of an aircraft destined for All Nippon Airways (ANA).

 

[samh004]

When they get then back in the air we can go back to the intermittent teething problems again

 

[oz_mark]

When they get then back in the air we can go back to the intermittent teething problems again

Read somewhere thsy ANA were going to fly it 200 times before putting it back into revenue service.

 

[samh004]

Read somewhere thsy ANA were going to fly it 200 times before putting it back into revenue service.

I don't mean the battery issues, but all the other bits that were slowly discovered after it entered service that no one noticed before. I'm sure there'll be a few reports if this and that before it becomes the trusty work horse.

 

[straitman]

Boeing Expects 787 Battery Fix To Be Completed Mid-May


By Michael Mecham [email protected]
Source: AWIN First

April 24, 2013
Credit: Boeing

Boeing’s engineering team of more than 300 personnel already has started to install battery kits in 10 of the 50 grounded 787s and nine of the 25 787-8s produced since the FAA ordered a halt to flights mid-January, says Chairman and CEO James McNerney.

During the company’s April 24 first quarter earnings conference call, McNerney said the company has a “high degree of confidence that we’ll get through it by mid-May.” Deliveries are expected to begin early next month.

Meanwhile, the race is on to determine which carrier first resumes 787 services, although Ethiopian Airlines expects to gain that honor with an April 27 flight from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi.

Also reporting return-to-service goals are Qatar Airways, which has scheduled a May 15 flight from Doha International Airport to London Heathrow Airport, and United Airlines, which expects to return some of its 787s to domestic service May 31. United also expects to launch service between Denver International Airport and Tokyo’s Narita International Airport June 10, although a spokeswoman tells Aviation Week, “that will depend on successful completion of planned modifications ahead of that date.”

It is unclear when the industry’s two largest 787 fleets at All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines will resume service, but Japan’s Civil Aviation Bureau is not expected to approve flights until June.