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Former NTSB Managing Director Peter Goelz on efforts to fix the battery issues in Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner.
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How big a blow is the dreamliner grounding full Boeing -- with me now is former NTSB managing director and senior vice president of oatmeal & Associates Peter goals people think -- so much for joining us.
So let's talk about this lithium ion battery appears to be the problem is -- heating catching fire from what I understand the dreamliner uses four times as much battery powers say a 787.
So it's not just a little glitches this.
Could this actually speak to a design problem that could be a much bigger affects.
Well you would hope that it would not because the the on the plane is gone through.
Probably a quarter of a million hours of FAA.
Certification.
Oversight.
But I think the issue you -- -- -- it is the use of these batteries -- and they are tough.
Customers when they start to cook off.
Is virtually impossible to put them out.
And the NTSB.
And the FAA.
Have both been greatly concerned.
Not only about the use of these batteries and aviation.
Even their transport.
So -- it a quick fix -- if indeed it's determined that these batteries are just not suitable for the job can you just -- -- -- another type of battery it was it not that easy.
Now that is that is a a very difficult process to change.
These batteries out because what what they provide is a great deal of power as you indicated this that uses for five times.
As much electrical power as previous aircraft.
And they changed would it be changed amount -- -- dramatically.
Increasing the weight.
You'd be reducing the electrical.
Power available to the plane they'll be a very challenging.
Process I think everyone's looking for -- to finding that the batteries involved perhaps had flaws in their manufacturing.
But you know the key point is.
Did the safety redundancies.
On this aircraft work as advertised.
You know where that you -- vented.
Were the flames yelled where was the fire contained the way it was designed.
If not -- borrowings got a big problem.
They do it does the FAA have a bit of a black tie as others have suggested because just last week -- -- talk about how much confidence I have in the plane.
And now they've taken this what some would say draconian measure of just grounding the entire fleet.
Well I'm sure secretary lahood who said -- just a few days ago it's safe to fly I'd get on one is sorry he ever said that.
Yeah because -- -- the agency did pull the plug unceremoniously.
On -- and once they did.
Every other oversight agency in the world who's got 740 sevens under their jurisdiction.
Pull the -- as well so I think I think the FAA is scrambling to play a little catch up on this.
As for the carry is that of -- these planes and of course Boeing was hoping to ramp up its production to ten a month by the end of the year.
That's done longer this drags on would you be concerned that carriers was not looking for all the options such as the Airbus.
Well here's here's the challenge of course -- they will start to look for other options.
But the dreamliner was such and is such a revolutionary.
Concept.
It gives you tremendous range.
Tremendous efficiency.
And tremendous passenger amenities.
I think the the customers you know or are gonna hold on for -- But boy if there is a significant problem.
Would these batteries.
I think they'll be some slippage.
Yeah -- indeed we'll continue to follow it thank you so much Peter gulls Peter thanks for joining us appreciate it.
Thank you enjoyed it again.
