US grounds Dreamliner aircraft
America's airline regulator has grounded all US registered 787 Dreamliner aircraft after a series of mid-air incidents and Japanese airlines decision to ground their fleets.
The US Federal Aviation Administration decision, which affectively means a world-wide ban on the operations of the plane, is another blow to Boeing, which manufactures the new aircraft.
Qatar Airways has scrapped its plans to launch 787 services to Perth from February 1 and opted to stay with its 777 operation.
The grounding may also delay the introduction of the 787 to Jetstar, which is due to get its first plane in August.
Qantas said yesterday it would not change its order for 15 of the 787 aircraft.
The FAA and Qatar Airways moves come after the pilots of an All Nippon Airways 787 were forced to land after suffering a suspected battery malfunction.
That incident came just over a week after a Japan Airlines 787 suffered a battery related fire at the gate at Boston Airport.
The FAA said that its action was taken as a result of the in-flight, Boeing 787 battery incident.
"The FAA will issue an emergency airworthiness directive (AD) to address a potential battery fire risk in the 787 and require operators to temporarily cease operations," the FAA said.
"Before further flight, operators of US-registered, Boeing 787 aircraft must demonstrate to the Federal Aviation Administration that the batteries are safe," it said.
The FAA said that the airworthiness directive is prompted by the second incident to ANA involving a lithium ion battery.
"The battery failures resulted in release of flammable electrolytes, heat damage, and smoke on two Model 787 airplanes," the FAA.said.
"The root cause of these failures is currently under investigation.
"These conditions, if not corrected, could result in damage to critical systems and structures, and the potential for fire in the electrical compartment."
Other aviation regulators are expected to follow the FAA's lead and ground the 50-strong 787 fleet.
Boeing has orders for 850 787s.
