FAA allows Dreamliner test flights
Battery problems have grounded Boeing's 787 Dreamliner fleet.
February 7th, 2013
08:07 PM ET

FAA allows Dreamliner test flights

After three weeks on the ground, Boeing's 787 Dreamliner soon will return to the skies - but only so engineers can test the plane's troubled electrical and battery systems, the Federal Aviation Administration said Thursday.

The FAA approved test flights for the Boeing planes with strict conditions to assure safety: Only essential personnel will be on board, crews must continuously monitor the plane for battery-related problems and tests will be conducted over unpopulated areas.

"These flights will be an important part of our efforts to ensure the safety of passengers and return these aircraft to service," the agency said.
Boeing spokesman Marc Birtel said in a statement that the company is "confident" the tests could be conducted safely, and said one Boeing aircraft has been designated for the test.

The Dreamliner is the first commercial aircraft to make extensive use of lithium-ion batteries, which can hold more electrical power in a smaller, lighter space. However, dangerous problems with batteries overheating have caused the 787 fleet to be grounded.

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Filed under: Air travel • Aviation • FAA • Travel • U.S.
soundoff (14 Responses)
  1. Patrick

    Often I work as a chef on airplanes. I fix up meals on the fly.

    February 7, 2013 at 8:16 pm | Report abuse |
    • banasy©

      Awwwwww, little Jeffy is jealous of Patrick...how cutesy wootsy...

      February 7, 2013 at 8:32 pm | Report abuse |
    • Jeff Frank (R-Ohio)"Right Wing Insanity"

      Uh ah!

      February 7, 2013 at 8:42 pm | Report abuse |
  2. Jeff Frank (R-Ohio)"Right Wing Insanity"

    A chef. On airplanes. Imagine that. Fix up flies on the meals.

    February 7, 2013 at 8:31 pm | Report abuse |
  3. Jeff Frank (R-Ohio)"Right Wing Insanity"

    Little Banasy is looking for a little Chicken Cordon Bleu huh? ♡♡♡

    February 7, 2013 at 8:45 pm | Report abuse |
    • banasy©

      Are you the guy who is impersonating Patrick? Are you this troll?

      February 7, 2013 at 8:50 pm | Report abuse |
  4. Jeff Frank (R-Ohio)"Right Wing Insanity"

    No hun, you know me like a book. I wouldn't try to do that to you without eventually comming clean about it. Just lke Lee Fong. Gotta go...later♥:-D

    February 7, 2013 at 8:56 pm | Report abuse |
  5. OBAMA2.0WHYpickonIsrael

    Face it- Israeli kids do not kill there moms and classmates- Israeli snipers do not snipe each other on the rifle range- clearly guns are not the problem- Iran is the problem because soon Americans will pay more for oil as beheaded in Saudi Arabia.

    February 7, 2013 at 9:34 pm | Report abuse |
  6. OBAMA2.0DonotpickonIsrael

    Is this not correct? Are not Israeli women free to have 8 husbands and more dysfunction with none of the problems of America? WHY are they different? Their, there, – ahhhhh ... giant budget C.I.A. tell us WHY.

    February 7, 2013 at 9:37 pm | Report abuse |
  7. OBAMA2.0DonotpickonIsraelagain

    8 secret and discreet husbands- "husband" is only an obsolete American term.

    February 7, 2013 at 9:41 pm | Report abuse |
  8. OBAMA2.0 discrete husbands

    Giganticus budget CIA- tell us WHY- are we missing some DNA, some training? WHY

    February 7, 2013 at 9:43 pm | Report abuse |
  9. Jeff Frank (R-Ohio)"Right Wing Insanity"

    Banasy OK I'm jealous of Patrick. If you closely look at the picture of the 787, you'll see a figure under the fuseloge between the wings and the tail. That's Patrick waving hi to you. Gotta go.

    February 7, 2013 at 10:11 pm | Report abuse |
    • banasy©

      They're blocking me again. Here's a virtual wave to you: (((wave)))

      February 7, 2013 at 10:35 pm | Report abuse |
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