Skift Take
It's a challenge being an effective regulator with limited funds and adversaries with much deeper pockets and better political connections than your agency has.
Federal regulators certifying the safety of the 787's lithium-ion batteries never visited the battery's manufacturer in Japan nor the company that designed the surrounding battery system in France, according to testimony at an investigative hearing Wednesday.
That was one of the jobs entrusted to Boeing employees who were handling much of the Federal Aviation Administration's detail work on certification of the plane's new technology, officials at the companies told the National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) hearing.
The hearing shed new light on how regulators delegated to Boeing -- and Boeing in turn delegated to its hierarchy of suppliers -- much of the responsibility for testing and certifying the plane's design.
Thales of France, which designed the battery system, was responsible for providing test data and paperwork to Boeing for certification.
But lacking any experience in certifying lithium-ion batteries, Thales in turn depended on the expertise of battery maker GS Yuasa of Japan, said Thierr
