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Boeing 787 Dreamliner: Innovation Gone Wrong?
Introduction
On November 10, 2013, a 787 Dreamliner flight operated by Japan Airlines developed a problem with its battery – the latest in a spate of problems plaguing Boeing’s 787 aircraft. A cockpit indicator in the aircraft pointed to a problem with the battery connected to the aircraft’s auxiliary power unit.
The 787 Dreamliner was developed by leading airplane manufacturer, the US-based Boeing Airplane Company (Boeing). The 787 Dreamliner was Boeing’s modern jet in which the aircraft manufacturer used new technology to cut the cost of fuel used for operating the plane by 20%. To reduce weight and improve fuel efficiency, the aircraft manufacturer used carbon-fiber materials and electronic systems with more powerful generators and higher-energy lithium-ion batteries. |
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The airplane, which was expected to revolutionize commercial aviation, was welcomed by the market with huge orders. However, ever since its development, the aircraft was plagued with troubles. Boeing had crossed its budget of developing 787 Dreamliner aircraft and was more than three years behind schedule in delivering it. Moreover, since January 2013, a series of technical problems had triggered international regulatory scrutiny of the jet. In the middle of January 2013, the entire 787 fleet around the world was grounded for three months. The company assured various airlines that it would address the problems and would assist them to resolve it. “We have complete confidence in the 787 and vow to take care of any issues our customers are experiencing,” said Randy Tinseth (Tinseth), Chief of Marketing at Boeing. ....
