By Skies Magazine | May 16, 2013 Estimated reading time 2 minutes, 6 seconds.
On Jan. 16, 2013, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an emergency Airworthiness Directive which effectively grounded all 787-8 Dreamliners worldwide, due to safety concerns over the lithium-ion batteries that powered the aircraft. Two incidents with a Japan Airlines 787 on Jan. 7 in Boston, Mass., and an ANA aircraft on Jan. 16, resulted in overheating, smoke and heat damage in the 787’s batteries. Other aviation regulatory bodies around the world immediately followed the FAA’s lead. This left the 50 delivered 787s grounded wherever they were, in 17 locations worldwide.
Boeing worked tirelessly with the regulator and the airlines to rectify the problems, with a newly-designed battery system approved on April 19, clearing the way for installation and the resumption of service. A subsequent Airworthiness Directive was issued on April 26, requiring modification of the battery system to include installing new main and auxiliary power unit (APU) battery enclosures, and environmental control system (ECS) ducts. The 787s were modified with the new batteries by each airline’s maintenance personnel, with Boeing deploying 300 personnel in 10 teams to assist with carrying out the mods. Each airline worked with their respective regulatory authorities to establish restart dates. The grounding cost Boeing an estimated $600 million, halted deliveries, and forced some airlines to lease alternative aircraft, or temporarily discontinue some routes. Several airlines will reportedly seek compensation.
Ethiopian Airlines did not suffer any of the technical glitches experienced by some of the other Dreamliner operators, but grounded its fleet and inspected each of its four aircraft as per the FAA mandate. On April 27, Ethiopian Airlines became the world’s first carrier to resume 787 commercial operations, with a flight from Addis Ababa to Nairoibi, Kenya. On May 11, Ethiopian resumed Dreamliner service to Toronto Pearson.　
