Dreamliner's New Battery to Get Thumbs Up: Report

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner could soon be flying again as the FAA is poised to announce an end to the plane's three-month grounding, perhaps as early as today, reports the Wall Street Journal. The FAA last month approved Boeing's planned fix to its fire-plagued lithium-ion batteries; it's expected to now say that the redesign did indeed create a safe battery, which includes a fire-preventing metal container. Boeing will then be able to retrofit some 50-or-so planes.

International aviation authorities are expected to follow the FAA's lead, and the 787 could be hauling passengers again as early as May. Boeing has several teams of engineers at the ready, so the fixes should take just a few days. However, testing the Dreamliners and giving pilots refresher courses are expected to take a few weeks. (More Boeing 787 Dreamliner stories.)