Boeing Completes Certification Testing for New 787 Battery System

Boeing completed a 787 certification demonstration flight friday, on line number 86, a Boeing-owned production airplane built for LOT Pol...

Boeing completed a 787 certification demonstration flight friday, on line number 86, a Boeing-owned production airplane built for LOT Polish Airlines. Today's flight marks the final certification test for the new battery system completing the testing required by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The flight departed from Paine Field in Everett, Wash. at 10:39 a.m. Pacific with a crew of 11 onboard, including two representatives from the FAA.
The airplane flew for 1 hour and 49 minutes, landing back at Paine Field at 12:28 p.m. Pacific.
The crew reported that the certification demonstration plan was straight forward and the flight was uneventful.
The purpose of the flight was to demonstrate that the new battery system performs as intended during normal and non-normal flight conditions.
Boeing will now gather and analyze the data and submit the required materials to the FAA.
The new battery design includes a number of changes including the addition of more thermal and electrical insulation materials to the cells and the battery. Changes to the battery charging limits will also improve on-board operation. Lastly, in the unlikely event of a battery failure a new battery enclosure eliminates any potential for fire and allows the airplane to safely continue on to its destination.