Boeing completes certification testing for new 787 battery system

The Boeing Co. (Everett, Wash., USA) reported on April 5 that it has completed a 787 certification demonstration flight on line number 86, a Boeing-owned production airplane built for LOT Polish Airlines. The 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 straightforward 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 company says it expects to deliver all of the materials to the FAA in the coming days. Once Boeing delivers the materials, it says it stands ready to reply to additional requests and continue in dialog with the FAA to ensure it has met all of its expectations.