The tortured path of missteps and accidents leading up to the FAA grounding six of the jetliners yesterday. The 787 Dreamliner was hailed for a superior design that makes it more fuel efficient and comfortable for passengers, but the plane has had serious malfunctions.
Federal officials say they are temporarily grounding Boeing's 787 Dreamliners until the risk of possible battery fires is addressed.
Image by SAUL LOEB / Getty Images
The Dreamliner is one of Boeing's most critical products. It has been praised for its high-tech design and fuel efficiency. Airlines set record orders for the jet, and Boeing has almost 800 more Dreamliners on order.
The 787 uses two lithium ion batteries — including one for the auxiliary power unit. The rechargeable batteries, widely used in consumer devices, have some pilots worried because batteries being shipped as cargo are suspected to have caused or contributed to the severity of fires in cargo planes.
When Boeing proposed using the batteries in the 787, the Federal Aviation Administration issued special rules, including a requirement that they be designed to prevent overheating. The severity of overheating is higher in larger batteries, the FAA said in the rule.
Nov. 9, 2010: Fire aboard 787 test jet forces emergency landing in Laredo, Texas.
Image by Elaine Thompson / AP
Feb. 6, 2012: Boeing Co. says it identified a problem in the rear section of some of its 787 Dreamliners.
Image by Toru Hanai / Reuters
