Eleven weeks after the fleet of 50 Boeing 787 Dreamliners was grounded due to lithium-ion battery malfunctions, the company announced it has completed tests on its proposed fix. FAA approval of the fix is expected, but could involve some more “back and forth” discussion. Even after the OK from the agency, it could still be up to two months before the fleet is cleared for service entry.
Boeing is prepping AOG (“aircraft on ground”) teams to replace batteries on the 50 grounded Dreamliners. The retrofit also includes a stainless steel containment vessel and a new venting system (to prevent battery overheating) that will involve drilling an access hole in the airframe for the titanium vent tube of each of three lithium-ion batteries for each jet.
