Boeing conducted a second test flight of its 787 on Monday as it looks for the cause of battery problems that have grounded the planes. It said no more tests are planned.
Boeing said Monday’s flight was uneventful. Another test flight was conducted Saturday.
Federal officials grounded the 787 on Jan. 16 because of battery problems that caused one fire and forced another plane to make an emergency landing. Boeing was granted permission from the Federal Aviation Administration this past week to conduct test flights under special conditions, including that the planes fly over unpopulated areas.
Boeing said Monday’s flight included special equipment that lets it track the conditions of its two big lithium-ion batteries during the flight. It’s one of Boeing’s fleet of six 787 test planes that were used for flight testing before the plane went into full production. Boeing said it will be analyzing data from the flight in the days ahead.
Boeing is continuing to build 787s while the planes are grounded, but it can’t deliver them to airline customers.
In an annual filing Monday, Boeing said it is too soon to estimate how much the 787 problems will cost the company.
