Boeing Receives FAA Approval of Certification Plan for 787 Battery Solution

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EVERETT, Wash., March 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing (NYSE: BA) has received
approval from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the company's
plan to test and certify improvements to the 787's battery system. Successful
completion of each step within the plan will result in the FAA's approval to
resume commercial 787 flights.

"Our top priority is the integrity of our products and the safety of the
passengers and crews who fly on them," said Boeing Chairman, President and CEO
Jim McNerney. "Our team has been working around the clock to understand the
issues and develop a solution based on extensive analysis and testing following
the events that occurred in January. Today's approval from the FAA is a critical
and welcome milestone toward getting the fleet flying again and continuing to
deliver on the promise of the 787," he said.

Ray Conner, president and chief executive officer of Boeing Commercial
Airplanes, said that the company's focus has been on developing a permanent
resolution.

"Working with internal and external experts in battery technology, we have
proposed a comprehensive set of solutions designed to significantly minimize the
potential for battery failure while ensuring that no battery event affects the
continued safe operation of the airplane," said Conner.

"Our proposal includes three layers of improvements. First, we've improved
design features of the battery to prevent faults from occurring and to isolate
any that do. Second, we've enhanced production, operating and testing processes
to ensure the highest levels of quality and performance of the battery and its
components. Third, in the unlikely event of a battery failure, we've introduced
a new enclosure system that will keep any level of battery overheating from
affecting the airplane or being noticed by passengers," Conner said.

Design feature improvements for the battery include the addition of new thermal
and electrical insulation materials and other changes. The enhanced production
and testing processes include more stringent screening of battery cells prior to
battery assembly. Operational improvements focus on tightening of the system's
voltage range. A key feature of the new enclosure is that it ensures that no
fire can develop in the enclosure or in the battery. Additional details of the
new design will be provided by Boeing in the days ahead.

Boeing made its certification plan proposal to the FAA in late February. Today
the agency agreed that the proposed changes and the detailed test plans address
the conditions that resulted in the suspension of 787 operations.

The FAA also granted Boeing permission to begin flight test activities on two
airplanes: line number 86, which will conduct tests to demonstrate that the
comprehensive set of solutions work as intended in flight and on the ground; and
ZA005, which is scheduled to conduct engine improvement tests unrelated to the
battery issue. Additional testing may be scheduled as needed.

The certification plan calls for a series of tests that show how the improved
battery system will perform in normal and abnormal conditions. The test plans
were written based on the FAA's standards as well as applicable guidelines
published by the Radio Technical Commission on Aeronautics (RTCA), an advisory
committee that provides recommendations on ways to meet regulatory requirements.
The RTCA guidelines were not available when the original 787 battery
certification plan was developed.

"We have a great deal of confidence in our solution set and the process for
certifying it," said Conner. "Before 787s return to commercial service, our
customers and their passengers want assurance that the improvements being
introduced will make this great airplane even better. That's what this test
program will do."

Contacts:
Yvonne Leach Marc Birtel
+1 206 854 5027 +1 206 390 4115
yvonne.l.leach@boeing.com marc.r.birtel@boeing.com

SOURCE Boeing