Further to my post last week, Boeing plans to conduct two flight tests of its revamped 787 battery system.The flights would depart from and return to Paine Field, the airport in Everett, Washington, where the 787 Dreamliner is made.

One flight would collect data for its own usage. The data from the second flight would be submitted for FAA approval.

If successful, then this would be a step forward to Boeing getting the aircraft approved for service within weeks.

None of the airlines using 787s have begun planning to get their planes up yet. In fact ANA told Reuters this week that the timetable was a best-case scenario and was too uncertain for it use in planning.The airline has asked for cash refunds in compensation for the losses inflicted by the worldwide grounding in place since January. Air India will take the same stand.

JAL said last Tuesday that the 787’s grounding could take $11.6 million off the airline’s operating profit for April-May.