The nightmare continues for Boeing's 787 Dreamliner, and now two Arizona companies have found themselves talking to federal investigators about the problems that have grounded the 787.
At issue are the plane's lithium-ion batteries.
Federal investigators are now looking into the factories where the new plane's battery and battery chargers were made.
Among the companies being asked to take part in that investigation -- Securaplane in Tucson and UTC Aerospace here in Phoenix.
Neither company is talking specifics about the investigation, only to say they are cooperating with investigators.
As for the battery itself, Boeing is the first to use lithium-ion batteries on an airliner.
It's the same type of battery technology used on new smartphones, but obviously on a much larger scale.
"These lithium-ion batteries on an aircraft are being subjected to much greater temperature extremes, much greater pressure extremes, because those airplanes are going up to 40,000 feet and much higher loads of electricity. So certainly when you see your iPhone, magnify that a thousand times and all of a sudden you got a battery like that on one of these airplanes. But I'm sure they would've thought of all of that. Sometimes things are just missed," says Timothy Mccullough, aviation legal expert with Gordon & Rees.
The two Arizona companies involved in the investigation don't make the battery, but instead components that help power the battery.
During the summer, most people in the valley escape the heat in the pool or inside with air conditioning. But one Sun City woman didn't have that choice.
During the summer, most people in the valley escape the heat in the pool or inside with air conditioning. But one Sun City woman didn't have that choice.
In one of the biggest-ever showdowns between an automaker and the government, Chrysler on Tuesday is expected to file papers explaining its refusal to recall 2.7 million older Jeep SUVs that are at risk of catching...
In one of the biggest-ever showdowns between an automaker and the government, Chrysler on Tuesday is expected to file papers explaining its refusal to recall 2.7 million older Jeep SUVs that are at risk of catching fire in...
General Motors is recalling more than 193,652 SUVs from the 2006 and 2007 model years because a circuit board in the driver's door could short and cause a fire.
General Motors is recalling more than 193,652 SUVs from the 2006 and 2007 model years because a circuit board in the driver's door could short and cause a fire.
McDonald's says a key sales figure rose 2.6 percent in May, with the world's biggest hamburger chain attributing the bump to its focus on value and new menu options.
Cheap eats and new menu items helped McDonald's boost a key sales figure in May, bouncing back from a decline the previous month.
Monday, June 3 2013 11:30 AM EDT2013-06-03 15:30:55 GMT
A Cheerios ad featuring an interracial couple that sparked serious controversy on YouTube brings up an important question: To what extent can a brand manage its reputation on the Internet?
A Cheerios ad featuring an interracial couple that sparked serious controversy on YouTube brings up an important question: To what extent can a brand manage its reputation on the Internet?
One week from now, the Jodi Arias murder trial should be in the hands of the jury. Even though the trial has lasted four months now, the interest in it is still high with a lot of people across the country.
One week from now, the Jodi Arias murder trial should be in the hands of the jury. Even though the trial has lasted four months now, the interest in it is still high with a lot of people across the country.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture says a Louisiana-based meat packing company has expanded a recall of meat products because of possible bacterial contamination.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture says a Louisiana-based meat packing company has expanded a recall of meat products because of possible bacterial contamination.
