787

Boeing has conducted the second test flight of a 787 Dreamliner in Seattle, US, as part of its ongoing efforts to investigate the reason behind recent battery failures.

The Chicago-based aeroplane manufacturer stated that the test flight on ZA005, a Boeing 787 test plane, lasted one hour and 29 minutes on 11 February and was uneventful.

No further test flights are currently planned, Boeing added.

On 9 February, the company flew the first 787 test flight for two hours and 19 minutes after receiving approval from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Boeing noted that it would analyse the data from the test flights in the coming days but would not release the findings.

Earlier this month, Boeing submitted an application to the US regulators to conduct test flights in order to test the in-flight performance of the 787’s batteries.

"Boeing noted that it would analyse the data from the test flights in the coming days but would not release the findings."

Meanwhile, the National Transportation Safety Board stated that although microscopic crystals known as dendrites, which may result in short-circuit and failures in the lithium-ion batteries, were not the primary focus they were among the areas of investigation in 787 incidents.

FAA grounded all 50 787s in-service worldwide on 16 January after battery problems forced Japan’s ANA jetliner to make an emergency landing.

The Dreamliner has been affected by several safety incidents this year, including a crack in the window of the cockpit, an oil leak from a generator inside an engine, a brake problem, fuel spillage and an electrical issue that led to fire onboard an aircraft.

To date, Boeing has received around 800 firm orders for 787 Dreamliners.

Image: Boeing stated that it will analyse the data from the test flights in the days ahead. Photo: courtesy of Boeing.

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