Senate plans aviation hearing, FAA approval of 787 battery

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Senate plans aviation hearing, FAA approval of 787 battery

WASHINGTON | Tue Jan 22, 2013 7:13pm EST

(Reuters) - A key Senate committee will hold a hearing in coming weeks to examine aviation safety oversight and the Federal Aviation Administration's decision to allow Boeing Co to use highly flammable lithium-ion batteries on board its new 787 Dreamliner, a congressional aide said on Tuesday.

U.S., Japanese and French authorities are investigating two separate cases in which lithium-ion batteries on board the new airliner failed. One of the batteries sparked a fire in Boston, while the other forced an emergency landing in Japan.

All 500 Boeing 787s have been grounded as a result.

"Certainly the issues of FAA certification will be a key component of the aviation safety oversight hearing we're planning," an aide to the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee told Reuters in an email.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/23/us-boeing-787-hearing-idUSBRE90M00220130123

[liam_laddie]

1. Only 50, not 500, are flying; typo. n/t