RTCA Standards Were Not Used For Initial Dreamliner Testing

Boeing says that it will use the stringent Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics (RTCA) standards to test its re-designed lithium-ion battery systems even though they are not required by the FAA.

Boeing helped develop and publish the standards in 2008, but the FAA did not require that the Dreamliner's batteries to meet them in the initial certification of the Dreamliner. The FAA had established the standards for the 787s batteries five months before the RTCA guidelines were published.

Reuters reports that Boeing said last week that it would use the more stringent standards as they work towards lifting the grounding of the entire fleet of Dreamliners following a battery fire in January. Former NTSB member John Goglia told the news service that moving to the RTCA standard now is "an admission they didn't go a good job in the beginning." He said that it will be at least mentioned in the NTSBs final report.

The FAA adopted the standard in 2011. Boeing is a co-chair of the RTCA's battery committee, which also counts representatives of GS Yuasa and Thales among its members. The non-profit group was formed in 1935, and its recommendations are often used by the FAA is setting standards for certification.

FMI: www.rtca.org