@green granite: The fire that destroyed the Securaplane headquarters is very interesting and relevant for at least two reasons:
1. While under test, the battery assembly being developed for the 787 by Securaplane exploded and caught fire, setting off the three-alarm building fire that destroyed Securaplane's lab and production facility.
2. The technician running the test later became a whistle-blower, asserting the Securaplane battery/charger assembly was unsafe for use in aircraft. He was subsequently fired by Securaplane.
A bit of additional information on the fire is contained on page 2 of the OSHA Administrative Law Judges'
Decision and Order (
http://www.oalj.dol.gov/Decisions/AL...3_CADEC_SD.PDF) ,which found the technician's firing to be for valid cause. Given recent developments, looks like the judgement of a tech regarded as highly competent was ultimately ignored as a consequence of his less impressive diplomatic skills.
I'm not a pilot and haven't read the FAA documents cited elsewhere in this thread, but the OSHA findings recounting the circumstances of the Securaplane technician's firing do not encourage me to become a 787 passenger.