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Lawmakers briefed on FAA's Boeing 787 Dreamliner investigation
Top ranking members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee were briefed on Friday by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on its investigation of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner airplane.
The 787 has been grounded by the FAA since last month after a series of incidents involving battery defects sparked at least one onboard electrical fire.
The group of lawmakers, including Transportation Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) and ranking Democrat on the panel Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) said in a joint statement they were "pleased" with the FAA's progress January in re-evaluating the 787.
“We have been closely monitoring the recent events involving the 787 Dreamliner and appreciate [FAA] Administrator [Michael] Huerta providing us with an update on this important issue," said the lawmakers, which also included aviation subcommittee Chairman Frank LoBiondo (R-Calif.) and ranking member Rick Larsen (D-Wash.).
"We are pleased with the progress that has been made by the FAA and remain confident that they are taking the appropriate actions to address safety issues," the lawmakers continued.
"We have also requested that the FAA share any lessons learned as a result of their review so that we can continue to ensure the U.S. civil aviation system remains the safest in the world,” the group added.
The FAA has not provided a time frame for returning the 787 to flight.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which is conducting its own 787 investigation, has attributed the battery fires to short-circuiting and accelerated temperature increases known as "thermal runaway."
The NTSB has additionally raised questions about the FAA's original certification of the Dreamliner airplane.
Boeing has argued that the vet of the airplane was "rigorous," and the company has maintained the 787 will be ultimately be ruled safe to fly.
The company has completed several test flights of the 787 after doing so was approved by the FAA.
