After a series of highly publicised problems including an ANA emergency landing on Wednesday 16 January, all 50 of the 787s across the world have been grounded. On Wednesday 16th January, 2013, US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered the grounding of all US-registered 787s and recommended other jurisdictions do the same:

As a result of an in-flight, Boeing 787 battery incident earlier today in Japan, the FAA will issue an emergency airworthiness directive (AD) to address a potential battery fire risk in the 787 and require operators to temporarily cease operations.  Before further flight, operators of U.S.-registered, Boeing 787 aircraft must demonstrate to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that the batteries are safe.    

The battery from the ANA 787 left next to an undamaged battery. Pic: Japan Transport Safety Board

The European Aviation Safety Agency have followed the FAA’s grounding order. India also followed the FAA directive. The FAA began a  comprehensive review of all aspects of the Boeing 787 last week.  No one yet knows if the problem is with the batteries themselves or the power source or the charging system or the 787’s electrical system.The airliner relies more on electrical power to run on-board systems than any other plane. The agency expects to have some preliminary data early next week.

The problem needs to be fixed before the public begin to doubt the aircraft’s safety. No one wants a repeat of the UK Comet scenario where a technically advanced plane which broke speed records,  proved to be unsafe.  Three Comets imploded mid flight in 1953 and 1954. All aboard perished. By the time a safer variant was launched, the public were spooked. Ironically, the grounding of the Comet, gave Boeing the opening it needed to get the 707 into extensive service.

Production of the 787 continues but deliveries have been suspended by Boeing. The last groundings of an aircraft by the FAA was of the DC-10 in 1979 for a month, after crash in Chicago.

Air India  -27 ordered.  Six grounded on Thursday

Air India grounded their planes  after instructions from India’s  Director General of Civil Aviation. The airline noted that they have had none of the battery problems that ANA, JAL and United have had. At a Press Conference on Friday,  India’s Civil Aviation Minister said Friday that Air India will seek “some kind of compensation” The Minister said Boeing is liable. He also indicated that the airline is still seeking delivery of their remaning order. Air India said it would use other planes on its scheduled 787 flights.

ANA:  50 ordered. 17 grounded on Wednesday

All Nippon Airways grounded their fleet on Wednesday after instruments on flight 692 from Yamaguchi to Tokyo  indicated a battery error. ANA said a smell was detected in the cockpit and the cabin, and pilots received emergency warning of smoke in the forward electronic compartment. After the incident last week on Boston where a JAL 787 had a fire on board, the airline took no chances. The plane made an emergency landing and all 129 passengers and eight crew were evacuated via the plane’s inflatable slides http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ifPCarjAmI

Ethiopian Airlines: 10 ordered. Four grounded Thursday 

Ethiopian Airlines said they ” have not encountered the type of problems such as those experienced by the other operators. However, as an extra precautionary safety measure and in line with its commitment of putting safety above all else, Ethiopian has decided to pull out its four Dreamliners from operation,” They were the last of the 787 operators to ground their planes.

JAL: 45 ordered. Seven grounded Wednesday

Japan Airlines  grounded their fleet until at least until 25 January. The carrier will be deploying  767s and 777s on 787 flights and has also cancelled services on its Tokyo -San Diego route.

LAN Airlines -three grounded Wednesday

LAN followed the FAA directive and its planes were grounded after United’s.

LOT Polish Airlines: Eight ordered. Two grounded Wednesday. 

The timing of the announcement was unfortunate and bizarre for LOT. A 787 was en route on its maiden from Warsaw Chicago flight.  It never made the return trip and is now stranded in the USA. LOT Airlines have said they will seek compensation from Boeing for the grounding.

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