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Dreamliner: Boeing defends battery changes on 787s Dreamliner: Boeing defends 787 batteries
(35 minutes later)
Boeing has backed the battery used in the Dreamliner after Japanese airlines said they had changed a number of them.Boeing has backed the battery used in the Dreamliner after Japanese airlines said they had changed a number of them.
On Wednesday, All Nippon Airways said it replaced batteries 10 times over the past few months, while Japan Airlines said it did so in a "few cases".On Wednesday, All Nippon Airways said it replaced batteries 10 times over the past few months, while Japan Airlines said it did so in a "few cases".
Boeing said while the replacement rate was "slightly higher" than usual, the changes were "routine maintenance" and were not due to any safety issues.Boeing said while the replacement rate was "slightly higher" than usual, the changes were "routine maintenance" and were not due to any safety issues.
Battery problems have led to the grounding of the entire fleet of 787s.Battery problems have led to the grounding of the entire fleet of 787s.
The grounding happened after a battery in a Japan Airlines 787 plane caught fire in Boston, while an All Nippon Airways flight was forced to make an emergency landing because of a battery malfunction earlier this month.The grounding happened after a battery in a Japan Airlines 787 plane caught fire in Boston, while an All Nippon Airways flight was forced to make an emergency landing because of a battery malfunction earlier this month.
Boeing said that it was carrying out an investigation to find out what caused the battery malfunctions.Boeing said that it was carrying out an investigation to find out what caused the battery malfunctions.
"Nothing that we have learned has told us that we have made the wrong choice on the battery technology," said Jim McNerney, chief executive of Boeing."Nothing that we have learned has told us that we have made the wrong choice on the battery technology," said Jim McNerney, chief executive of Boeing.
"We feel good about the battery technology and it's fit for the aeroplane."We feel good about the battery technology and it's fit for the aeroplane.
"We have just got to get to the root cause of these incidents and we will take a look at the data as it evolves, but there is nothing that we have learned that causes us to question it at this stage.""We have just got to get to the root cause of these incidents and we will take a look at the data as it evolves, but there is nothing that we have learned that causes us to question it at this stage."
'Business as usual'
The incidents have also prompted authorities in both the US and Japan to launch inquiries to try to find out what caused the battery problems.
But earlier this week, Japan's transport ministry said that safety inspectors had found no faults with the battery, leading to concerns that the planes might remain grounded for a while.
The problems have also led to Boeing halting deliveries of 787 planes.
However, the planemaker, which has orders for more than 800 Dreamliners, said the issue had not impacted its production plans.
It added that it had not asked any of its suppliers to slow down deliveries of parts.
Mr McNerney said that it was "business as usual", adding that the firm planned to go ahead with the planned ramp-up in production.
"Our plan is to continue production of the 787 and to continue the development of the wide-body airplanes," he added.
Meanwhile, Boeing reported record revenues of $22bn (£14bn) for the last quarter of 2012.
But its net income dropped 30% from a year ago, when it benefited from an unusually low tax bill, to $978m.
The figures pre-date the grounding of the 787 fleet.