A January 2013 battery fire prompted the worldwide grounding of all Boeing 787 Dreamliners -- one of the most advanced, sophisticated airliners in the sky. Members of Boeing's Aircraft On Ground (AOG) team display components of the new Dreamliner battery system after an ANA 787 test flight. To implement the fix, Boeing moved a small army of technicians to 13 international locations. Click through the photos to see how Boeing re-engineered the battery to make it safer.
The battery fix —
A January 2013 battery fire prompted the worldwide grounding of all Boeing 787 Dreamliners -- one of the most advanced, sophisticated airliners in the sky. Members of Boeing's Aircraft On Ground (AOG) team display components of the new Dreamliner battery system after an ANA 787 test flight. To implement the fix, Boeing moved a small army of technicians to 13 international locations. Click through the photos to see how Boeing re-engineered the battery to make it safer.
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Before Boeing could implement the battery fix for Dreamliner customers, it constructed mockups and carried out tests on aircraft at headquarters. Here, 787 flight line mechanic Steve Foster slots a new battery containment box into position in a 787 electronic equipment bay.
Testing at HQ —
Before Boeing could implement the battery fix for Dreamliner customers, it constructed mockups and carried out tests on aircraft at headquarters. Here, 787 flight line mechanic Steve Foster slots a new battery containment box into position in a 787 electronic equipment bay.
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The battery is secured inside its stainless steel containment box in the bay. The modification was performed on an airplane in Everett, Washington, as part of the certification process.
Certification —
The battery is secured inside its stainless steel containment box in the bay. The modification was performed on an airplane in Everett, Washington, as part of the certification process.
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Once the fix was approved by the FAA, Boeing began to prepare then ship the battery containment kit for shipping to its 787 customers. "The parts easily go into a lower cargo hold but the tools and logistics to do the work probably are more suitable for a freighter," managing director of AOG James Testin says. "The equipment weighs close to 28,000 to 30,000 lbs (12.7 to 13.6 tons)."
Logistical challenge —
Once the fix was approved by the FAA, Boeing began to prepare then ship the battery containment kit for shipping to its 787 customers. "The parts easily go into a lower cargo hold but the tools and logistics to do the work probably are more suitable for a freighter," managing director of AOG James Testin says. "The equipment weighs close to 28,000 to 30,000 lbs (12.7 to 13.6 tons)."
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A battery compartment vent on the belly of a United Airlines Dreamliner 787.
Boeing's Dreamliner battery fix —
A battery compartment vent on the belly of a United Airlines Dreamliner 787.
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A Boeing technician checks an ANA Dreamliner after a test flight. Implementing the battery fix worldwide involved 10 teams and around 300 people, Boeing says.
Implementation —
A Boeing technician checks an ANA Dreamliner after a test flight. Implementing the battery fix worldwide involved 10 teams and around 300 people, Boeing says.
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This Ethiopian Airlines Dreamliner was the first to resume commercial services on April 27, 2013, after the global grounding of the 787.
Return to service —
This Ethiopian Airlines Dreamliner was the first to resume commercial services on April 27, 2013, after the global grounding of the 787.
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