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| Boeing Dreamliner continues to be plagued by problems |
The National
Transportation Safety Board urged the Federal Aviation Administration to
develop better tests for the uncontrolled overheating that led to a
battery fire on a Dreamliner in 2013, require Boeing to conduct the
tests, and check whether 787s, and possibly other planes, need more
testing to ensure their lithium batteries are safe.
The NTSB stopped short
of calling the batteries or planes unsafe. Lithium-based batteries are
widely used in cars, laptops and smartphones and have a tendency to
overheat through processes that are not well understood by scientists.
The NTSB has not yet
determined a root cause for the 787 fire that occurred in Boston in
January 2013. Two other 787 batteries have since overheated, one in
January 2014, and regulators grounded the 787 fleet for three months
last year while Boeing designed a steel containment box meant to stifle
battery fires on the innovative jet.
Boeing said it supports efforts to improve certification standards. The FAA was not immediately available to comment.
Boeing also said the
tests it conducted in overhauling the 787 battery system last year "are
fully consistent with the recommendations made by the NTSB today. We
therefore remain confident in the safety and integrity of the
comprehensive battery solution which was developed by Boeing, and
approved by the FAA, last year."
In calling for the
changes before the fire investigation ends, the NTSB signaled that
safety could be improved and pressed the FAA to move forward without
delay.
Read more: Boeing Dreamliner Batteries Need More Testing: Safety Watchdog - NBC News.com
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