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Japan Approves Return to Air of Boeing 787 Japan Approves Return to Air of Boeing 787
(about 5 hours later)
TOKYO — The Japanese authorities formally approved Boeing’s fixes to the batteries on its 787 Dreamliner jets on Friday and declared the aircraft fit for use, clearing the path for its biggest operators to begin flying the planes again after a grounding that began in January. TOKYO — The Japanese and American authorities have lifted the final hurdles to the Boeing 787’s return to commercial flights, more than three months after the plane’s battery problems grounded the fleet.
Separately, the Federal Aviation Administration on Thursday published a new rule that formally lifted the grounding of the 787s operated by carriers based in the United States once modified lithium-ion batteries were installed. The Japanese authorities on Friday formally approved Boeing’s fixes to the lithium-ion batteries on its 787 Dreamliner jets and declared the aircraft fit for use. But as an extra precaution before returning the planes to service, Japan’s Ministry of Transport asked All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines, which together own about half of the 50 Dreamliners delivered so far, to adopt additional safety measures than those required by the American aviation authorities. Those measures include adding monitors to the batteries to read voltage levels in real time.
Last week, the F.A.A. had given a green light to Boeing to start modifying the batteries on the 787s. In its rule, known as an airworthiness directive, the F.A.A. gave its first estimate of the cost of the repairs — $464,763 per plane — though the agency said that could be covered by the plane’s warranty and, therefore, paid by Boeing. Separately, the Federal Aviation Administration on Thursday published a new rule that formally lifted the grounding of the 787s operated by carriers based in the United States once the modified lithium-ion batteries are installed. Last week, the F.A.A. had given a green light to Boeing to start modifying the batteries on the 787s. In its new rule, known as an airworthiness directive, the F.A.A. gave its first estimate of the cost of the repairs — $464,763 per plane — though the agency said that could be covered by the plane’s warranty and, therefore, paid by Boeing.
Boeing’s new battery plans are meant to add safety features to the 787’s lithium-ion batteries that will minimize the chances of their emitting smoke or catching fire, after two units overheated on separate planes in January.Boeing’s new battery plans are meant to add safety features to the 787’s lithium-ion batteries that will minimize the chances of their emitting smoke or catching fire, after two units overheated on separate planes in January.
On Friday, the Japanese Ministry of Transport authorized All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines — which together own about half of the 50 Dreamliners delivered so far — to resume flights. The ministry asked All Nippon and Japan Airlines to adopt additional safety measures, including adding monitors to the batteries to read voltage levels in real time, before the planes are brought back to service.
Akihiro Ota, the transportation minister, said at a news conference that he was satisfied with the multiple measures Boeing had taken to eliminate risks of fire. “They have adopted defense in depth,” Mr. Ota said.Akihiro Ota, the transportation minister, said at a news conference that he was satisfied with the multiple measures Boeing had taken to eliminate risks of fire. “They have adopted defense in depth,” Mr. Ota said.
All Nippon said that teams of Boeing engineers had already started to replace batteries on all of its 17 Dreamliners and that fixes — which take five days per plane — would continue until the end of May. The airline said it would start using the planes again for commercial flights when the fixes had been made to its entire fleet. Japan Airlines declined to speculate on how long the fixes would take. All Nippon said that teams of Boeing engineers had already started to replace batteries on all of its 17 Dreamliners and that fixes — which take five days per plane — would continue until the end of May. The airline said it would start using the planes again for commercial flights when the repairs had been made to its entire fleet. Japan Airlines declined to speculate on how long the fixes would take.
All Nippon said its 787s would each undergo a test flight to “confirm that no battery-related failures occur during flight.” The first test flight is scheduled for Sunday, the airline said in a statement. All Nippon said its 787s would each undergo a test flight to “confirm that no battery-related failures occur during flight.” The first test flight is scheduled for Sunday, the airline said in a statement. The carrier has said it hoped to resume regular 787 flights in June.
The airline will also install improved battery monitoring systems on its planes and put its 787 cockpit crews through additional in-flight training. After the planes are back in service, the airline will remove a sample of batteries to inspect to make sure the improvements are effective, All Nippon said.The airline will also install improved battery monitoring systems on its planes and put its 787 cockpit crews through additional in-flight training. After the planes are back in service, the airline will remove a sample of batteries to inspect to make sure the improvements are effective, All Nippon said.
All Nippon said it intended to set up a dedicated Web site to address passenger concerns about the safety of the 787.All Nippon said it intended to set up a dedicated Web site to address passenger concerns about the safety of the 787.
“Only when we are fully satisfied with the safety of our 787 fleet will we return the aircraft to service,” Osamu Shinobe, president and chief executive of All Nippon, said in a statement.“Only when we are fully satisfied with the safety of our 787 fleet will we return the aircraft to service,” Osamu Shinobe, president and chief executive of All Nippon, said in a statement.
Boeing has said that it expects to deliver another 60 planes before the end of the year and that it will produce 10 planes a month after that. United Airlines is currently the only American carrier operating the plane, and now has six 787s in its fleet.Boeing has said that it expects to deliver another 60 planes before the end of the year and that it will produce 10 planes a month after that. United Airlines is currently the only American carrier operating the plane, and now has six 787s in its fleet.
The airlines that already own 787s are all eager to resume service, though the timing of the resumption of flights varies. LOT, Poland’s national airline, plans to begin commercial 787 flights on June 5 between Warsaw and Chicago. Later, it expects to fly its planes to New York, Toronto and Beijing. Air India said it hoped to have flights by mid-May.The airlines that already own 787s are all eager to resume service, though the timing of the resumption of flights varies. LOT, Poland’s national airline, plans to begin commercial 787 flights on June 5 between Warsaw and Chicago. Later, it expects to fly its planes to New York, Toronto and Beijing. Air India said it hoped to have flights by mid-May.
United, which said earlier this week that the grounding of its 787s had cost it $11 million in the last quarter, has scheduled its 787s to start flying domestic routes on May 31 and plans international flights starting on June 10, from Denver to Tokyo and Houston to London. The airline will then fly its 787s in August from Houston to Lagos, Nigeria, as well as from Los Angeles to Shanghai and Tokyo.United, which said earlier this week that the grounding of its 787s had cost it $11 million in the last quarter, has scheduled its 787s to start flying domestic routes on May 31 and plans international flights starting on June 10, from Denver to Tokyo and Houston to London. The airline will then fly its 787s in August from Houston to Lagos, Nigeria, as well as from Los Angeles to Shanghai and Tokyo.
The other airlines that own 787s are Qatar Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines and LAN of Chile.The other airlines that own 787s are Qatar Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines and LAN of Chile.
American and Japanese regulators have been investigating the Japanese-made batteries aboard the 787 after one caught fire aboard a parked plane in Boston operated by Japan Airlines and another emitted smoke on an All Nippon flight in Japan, forcing an emergency landing. The incidents prompted regulators to ground the entire 787 fleet.American and Japanese regulators have been investigating the Japanese-made batteries aboard the 787 after one caught fire aboard a parked plane in Boston operated by Japan Airlines and another emitted smoke on an All Nippon flight in Japan, forcing an emergency landing. The incidents prompted regulators to ground the entire 787 fleet.
Norihiro Goto, the head of the Japan Transport Safety Board, said earlier this past week that investigators remained unsure what had caused the batteries to overheat. But Japan was satisfied that Boeing had now considered all conceivable potential problems that could lead to a battery fire, Mr. Goto said.Norihiro Goto, the head of the Japan Transport Safety Board, said earlier this past week that investigators remained unsure what had caused the batteries to overheat. But Japan was satisfied that Boeing had now considered all conceivable potential problems that could lead to a battery fire, Mr. Goto said.
Japanese airlines have been enthusiastic buyers of the 787, Boeing’s latest-generation, fuel-efficient plane. It is the first passenger jet to use lithium-ion batteries, which are more powerful, easier to charge and lighter than older battery technologies. But they have also proved to be prone to overheating.Japanese airlines have been enthusiastic buyers of the 787, Boeing’s latest-generation, fuel-efficient plane. It is the first passenger jet to use lithium-ion batteries, which are more powerful, easier to charge and lighter than older battery technologies. But they have also proved to be prone to overheating.

Hiroko Tabuchi reported from Tokyo and Jad Mouawad from New York.

Hiroko Tabuchi reported from Tokyo and Jad Mouawad from New York.