Latest Boeing Dreamliner cleared for takeoff

EVERETT - Boeing Co. said Monday that U.S. and European regulators have approved its newest and larger version of the 787 passenger jet for commercial flying.

The company says that the first Boeing 787-9 is undergoing final preparation before being delivered to Air New Zealand.

Boeing has invested more than $30 billion developing its new 787 Dreamliner -- one of the most advanced planes ever. By all accounts, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner encompasses the latest in aviation technology, including a greater reliance on electrical systems than in previous planes.

The new plane is 20 feet longer and able to carry more passengers than the original 787-8. Boeing says the planes, which it calls the Dreamliner, use 20 percent less fuel and produce 20 percent less emissions than other planes of the same size. Boeing reduces weight and fuel burn by using composite materials for about half of the plane, according to the company website.

Boeing says 26 customers around the world have ordered 413 787-9 jets.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and the European Aviation Safety Agency certified the 787-9 for commercial service. Boeing said the certification process involved ground and laboratory tests on five planes and more than 1,500 hours of flight testing.

The FAA, like aviation regulators in other countries, relies on the aircraft manufacturers to test their planes to make sure they are safe. FAA's certification engineers validate that testing and ensure that the level of safety meets FAA regulations. Boeing developed the safeguards for the 787s lithium batteries, but they had to win FAA's approval first.

Dreamliners were grounded worldwide last year after one suffered a battery fire and another had to make an emergency landing because pilots smelled something burning. Airlines and regulators had to cancel all Dreamliner flights.

An investigator in Japan, where a 787 made an emergency landing last year, said the charred insides of the plane's lithium ion battery show the battery received voltage in excess of its design limits. At least $125 million a month was spent to compensate the seven airlines flying to 787 for its downtime.

The planes were allowed to fly again after regulators approved a fix by Boeing that included encasing the battery cells in steel to contain any fires.

Boeing shares took a dive after the battery problems were discovered last year. But they have recovered much of their value since then, trading early Monday afternoon at $132.88.