Following on from a fire on board a Boeing 787 dreamliner plane, the manufacturer is to undergo further federal investigation into the safety and stability of the aircraft.
The issues are rooted in the model’s lithium-ion battery system, which was the cause of the fire and responsible for smoke on separate aircraft. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is looking into the how faulty system made it past regulator and into the plane in the first place.
A board hearing was launched to investigate the issue with NTSB Chairperson Deborah Hersman stating: “We are here to understand why the 787 experienced unexpected battery failures following a design program led by one of the world’s leading manufacturers and a certification process that is well-respected throughout the international aviation community.
“We are looking for lessons learned not just for the design and certification of the failed battery, but also for knowledge that can be applied to emerging technologies going forward,” she added.
People representing Boeing, their subcontractors as well as officials from the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) are all scheduled to testify on the matter, which is hoped to ensure a risk like this to passengers and flight staff is never repeated.
Irish journalist writing on business, tech and engineering.
