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Airbus ditches lithium-ion batteries from A350 after Dreamliner fiasco Airbus ditches lithium-ion batteries from A350 after Dreamliner fiasco
(about 3 hours later)
Airbus is dropping lithium-ion batteries from its new A350 airliner because of uncertainty surrounding the technology that has led to the grounding of Boeing's 787 Dreamliner.Airbus is dropping lithium-ion batteries from its new A350 airliner because of uncertainty surrounding the technology that has led to the grounding of Boeing's 787 Dreamliner.
European planemaker Airbus said it had decided to revert to conventional nickel-cadmium batteries for the A350. The plane is a wide-body long-range jet rival to the 787 and is expected to make its first flight around the middle of 2013. Airbus said it had decided to revert to conventional nickel-cadmium batteries for the A350. The plane is a wide-body long-range jet rival to the 787 and is expected to make its first flight around the middle of 2013.
Airbus said it did not expect the battery switch to lead to a setback in the A350's schedule. The European firm said it did not expect the battery switch to lead to a setback in the A350's schedule.
"Airbus considers this to be the most appropriate way forward in the interest of program execution and A350 XWB reliability," said spokeswoman Mary Anne Greczyn."Airbus considers this to be the most appropriate way forward in the interest of program execution and A350 XWB reliability," said spokeswoman Mary Anne Greczyn.
US aviation safety officials grounded the 787 last month because of problems with its lithium-ion batteries that caused one fire and forced another plane to make an emergency landing.US aviation safety officials grounded the 787 last month because of problems with its lithium-ion batteries that caused one fire and forced another plane to make an emergency landing.
Airbus noted the A350 uses batteries in a different setup than the 787, making it unlikely it would face the same problems. Its A350 flight-test programme would still go forward with lithium-ion batteries. Airbus noted the A350 uses batteries in a different setup than the 787, making it unlikely it would face the same problems. Its A350 flight-test programme would still go forward with lithium-ion batteries.
But because the causes of the problems with the 787 batteries remain unclear, Airbus decided to make the switch "to optimise program certainty", Greczyn said. But because the causes of the problems with the 787 batteries remain unclear, Airbus decided to make the switch "to optimise programme certainty", Greczyn said.
The Wall Street Journal first reported on Airbus's decision to drop the lithium-ion batteries, noting the incidents with the 787 had led to industry uncertainty about future safety standards for the technology.The Wall Street Journal first reported on Airbus's decision to drop the lithium-ion batteries, noting the incidents with the 787 had led to industry uncertainty about future safety standards for the technology.