Boeing considering interim plan to tackle battery problem: reports
19 Feb 2013
US aerospace giant Boeing is considering an interim plan for its 787 Dreamliner in case of batteries overheating or catching fire, according to PTI which cited a media report yesterday.
The plane maker's new jet remains grounded after the middle of last month when battery smoke forced an emergency landing of one plane and a battery fire was reported on a parked jet.
Though the company has stood by the safety of the lithium-ion batteries used in the plane, with the results of an official investigation due, however, today's report in The Seattle Times, said the company was looking for a temporary solution according to the PTI.
The report said the company may encase the battery cells in a titanium or steel box fitted with a high pressure vent to contain any fire that erupted in flight.
It added no Boeing spokesman was immediately available to comment on the report, which according to the paper came from people familiar with the plan.
The long-haul fuel-efficient, aircraft built using the latest composite materials, is a key component of Boeing's business strategy to gain the upper hand in the virtual duopoly it shares with rival Airbus.