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Former NTSB Commissioner Peter Goelz on efforts to resolve the battery issues in the Boeing Dreamliner.
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The clouds -- getting darker and darker for Boeing's dreamliner take a look at this graphic that shows the lithium ion battery.
From an all Nippon Airways flight when it overheated.
Next how it looks when it's functioning correctly that's -- I -- But earlier today Japan's transportation safety agency claimed the battery wasn't over charged as they first thought.
That actually experience a sudden drop in voltage in get this.
US investigators say they haven't seen any signs of overcharging on -- Japan Airways flight there -- there so it begs the question.
What's -- and can we rely all these batteries at all right now -- Managing director of the National Transportation Safety Board.
You know so I don't -- playing amateur scientists here.
It seems like there is a lithium ion battery involved in a lot of things that stopped working.
Are the danger -- -- we not understand how they work or it is adequate incidents what do you think.
Well.
You know there's no question that these batteries particularly.
In the new dreamliner.
Our challenge you know this is a radically different airplane it's got to.
Of these big batteries you know 32 volts eight cell batteries.
That drive the power in this plane and that they've eliminated one cause.
Potential cause.
Probably good news they're gonna keep going at this in a methodical way until they find out.
What happened and then make up facts but it's a challenge because this is new territory that everybody's in.
You does it surprise you that in 2007 regulators cleared Boeing's use this battery.
Even though they -- was flammable they decided it was safe to let the lithium ion battery -- -- -- caught fire -- As long as the flames were contained.
And the smoke and fumes were -- properly.
-- show about badly -- fact that it what do you think about -- Well there's two ways to deal -- these batteries you know if you want planes to fly further.
Fly more economic.
Have greater creature comforts inside of them you've you've got to make radical decisions using these batteries.
Help them save weight increase.
Distance increase interior comfort but the challenge was what do you do that tough customers.
If they start to burn or or -- they start to overheat and in that case either.
Contain the fire which is what Boeing.
Designers did they contained it and then they -- it.
The other way as you as you try and put it out.
But would would suppression.
But this is a very difficult challenge would these types of batteries -- always got their hands fall.
The investigators have their hands full -- I think they're gonna figure it out.
Going forward I mean if you were designing -- -- today would you use this battery.
Well I think I think the answer is yes you know Airbus is moving forward with their own advanced version the -- 350.
That's gonna rely on increased.
Electronics.
They're gonna have to rely on lithium batteries as well they may take a different approach they may look.
Towards -- oppression is supposed to containment.
But if you want the increased economics if you wanna have a less of a carbon footprint if you -- -- have greater -- creature comforts.
This is the way yeah I have to go.
I don't know I'm an analyst in my she wanna fly you really bent on flying then maybe you don't wanna buy what -- these planes I know Michael Dell Britain in order for a 787.
I mean to pry it doesn't matter to him -- the by the -- doesn't work it's penetrated operative from what -- -- you think that all this bad PR.
Hurts their sales going forward or do you think people in the industry say to themselves.
He's above normal -- -- that come with the new design.
It has not hurt their sales so far you know when -- -- for 7400.
And the 767.
Were introduced.
Their reliability rates scheduled reliability during the first year was in the low ninety's.
The triple seven when it was introduced had a 98%.
Reliability level.
So far the dreamliner has had close to a 98%.
Reliability.
Record so it's it's proven to be a good plane and what they've got to address this issue and it's a scary one.
Peter former managing director of the NTSB we appreciate your insights and really get box that we hope you'll come back.
Thank you.
