Hi Lyman,
But that is OK, what is needed now is for Boeing to implement their PLAN B.
There is no chance that, knowing the Lithium chemistry was not a lock, Boeing has nothing ready to refit.
I would like to believe that, but I am not sure that plan B is all that simple.
Maybe you are right, perhaps they have a non-Lithium-ion replacement that will fit the slot. But if they do, it is going to be 4 times heavier and twice the volume. Even if they have another Lithium-ion battery on the drawing board, it is going to take some time before it is ready to go. I could be wrong, engineers are at their most creative under pressure.
But perhaps there is a way out for Boeing. I am sure the engineers will find some issue responsible for starting these fires. This will be fixed across the fleet, but it still leaves Boeing with a battery which is flammable. Even if it is much less likely to catch fire, it still can't be certified. After fixing the initial flaw perhaps a compromise can be arranged with the FAA. Boeing would propose a battery redesign and promise to fit the new units within a limited time period, say 6 months. The 787 would be allowed fly again during this period which would give Boeing enough time to build, test and certify the new battery.