The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved the installation of lithium-ion batteries in A350-900 Airbus aircraft.
Airbus switched to nickel-cadmium batteries after Boeing 787 battery-related incidents that forced to ground the fleet in mid-January.
Airworthiness regulations issued by the FAA do not contain standards for all modern aircraft designs, including lithium-ion batteries. “Lithium-ion batteries and battery systems have new hazards that were not contemplated when the existing regulations were issued,” said the FAA.
The additional regulations contain maintenance requirements such as the assurance that the battery is correctly charged to ensure the safety of passengers.
“A battery cell may be damaged by lowering the charge below a point where the battery experiences a reduction in the ability to charge and retain a full charge. This reduction would be greater than the reduction that may result from normal operational degradation,” said the FAA.
The conditions of the possible use of lithium batteries on the A350 are similar to the ones laid out for Boeing. Airbus said that it believes in the safety of lithium-ion batteries, but will revert to nickel-cadmium cells if necessary.
