After getting FAA approval to begin test flights to fix its Dreamliner-battery issue, Boeing announced, during a press conference, in Tokyo, on Friday, what changes they are working on to make the plane safe and flyable again.
"The company may never get to the single root cause" of the battery issues, which included a small fire on the front of the battery box of a plane that was on the tarmac at Boston's Logan International Airport on January 7. He said he believes improvements to the system will prevent problems," said Boeing's Matt Sinnett, according to CNN.
Some of the changes being worked on is a new fireproof, stainless steel enclosure around the Lithium-ion-battery casing.
"This will prevent fires, Sinnett said, according to CNN.
Their engineers have also minimized potential combustion sources in the lithium-ion batteries. Meaning, if there were a release of gas from the batteries, the enclosure would keep it from the rest of the airplane and vent vapors outside the airplane.
Boeing is certain the with the casing, combined with limiting the voltage range to reduce the energy and changing the charging unit will reduce the risk of fires--making the plane safer.
"I get asked if the airplane is safe," Sinnett said. "My answer is absolutely. This airplane is among the safest airplane our company has ever produced," reported CNN.
Since late January, 50 Dreamliners have been grounded, resulting in lost revenue, for the company and the airlines who ordered their 787, but can't fly them.
The on-going issues has caused Boeing's President and CEO Ray Conner to apologize to passengers, the airlines and the Japanese people (meaning, Air Nippon Airways, the largest keeper of Dreamliners, who have threatened to sue them to recoup money lost) for the problems plaguing the company's newest and most advanced commercial jetliner.
Even with Boeing working on the plane, executives could not give a definitive time frame for Dreamliner's return to service, as it is contingent on safety approvals.
"In neither event was the airplane structure damaged," Sinnett said, according to CNN.
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