Analysis - Sleepless in Seattle

Many thanks to KAREN WALKER and TechGuru, and to many more besides, who made excellent contributions to the debate on this topic in the earlier (though still recent) epoch of ATWOnline.

Intellectual honesty prevents one from even being tempted to disagree with the above writings.

The problem is that Civil Aviation needs the success of this B787 programme !

Remember the exchanges , including those with Froggy ?

You, TechGuru, have written “Not only Boeing went on LI route without a plan B, they built their electrical architecture around a few outstanding characteristics of this battery. Now they are snookered. It is very clear from Sinnet's words, there is no way they can go back to Ni-Cad without redesigning the entire electrical system around it. This could take a year at least."
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I wrote more or less the same thing, without any “connivance” between us (impossible, for obvious reasons ! ). I even went as far as saying, or implying, that it was as if Boeing had built the whole “more-electric aircraft” around the electrical architecture, itself an emanation of the fundamental Li-ion battery concept !
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You have the technical competencies ; I do not.

I have to lean on what analytical skills I may have, and trust (or not ! ) in what I read from visibly expert and experienced people. Oh, and of course, like many, I am severely handicapped by not holding a professional qualification or diploma in “Batteries and / or Architecture" !

Though one can understand the need for so much self-inspection & self-assessment, and the logic of delegation to appropriate “designated authorities”, I do feel disappointment at the apparent lack of FAA independence that all this has engendered and made visible.

Trust évaporates to give ground to scepticism, and then to distrust !

And, in the circumstances, that is not much good either.

That the aircraft resume test-flights is both understandable, and imperative. That there must be the most rigorous testing, under the strictest supervision of truly knowledgeable, experienced experts of incontestable independence, is self-evident.

One aspect is how to achieve all that. Another is how to convince the public, and the probable, future paying passengers that there has been the essential ingredient of independence, .... in order for THEM (the BEHOLDERS ! ) to have full confidence !

Obviously, ... there are many, many more questions, too !

Thanks TechGuru.

Yes. This was mentioned, and, I believe, even included in one article upon which we have commented.

But we probably decided to ignore it, to avoid highlighting Boeing's apparent incoherence & / or inconsistency !

I know that that was what I felt !

The aim was NOT to put the boot in on Boeing, already down on one knee !