Boeing has found a way to fix the battery problems on the grounded 787 Dreamliner, Reuters has reported, citing a source familiar with the matter. Ray Conner, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, will reportedly present the solution and related changes to FAA Administrator Michael Huerta on February 22.
By Friday, the solution will have been presented to lower levels of government already. If accepted by the FAA, Boeing could reportedly have a plan to get the plane back in the air by April.
The solution will reportedly involve increasing the space between the lithium-ion battery cells, which combust when overheated. Boeing has reportedly proposed an engineering change that will include an improved box to contain any possible fire. “The gaps between cells will be bigger,” the unnamed source reportedly said. “I think that’s why there was overheating.”
The 50 Dreamliners in commercial service were grounded worldwide last month after a series of battery-related incidents including a fire on board a parked plane in the United States and an in-flight problem on another jet in Japan. Until the Dreamliner is cleared to fly again, Boeing has halted deliveries of new planes.
This not only stops payments, but also raises the question of compensation to airlines. Chief executive of Qantas Airlines reportedly said on February 20 that it had received $125 million in compensation income from Boeing for the delay in 787 deliveries. Analysts estimate that Boeing is losing about $200 million in delivery payments every month that the 787 remains grounded, while spending as much as $1 billion a month to keep its 787 production line running.