I agree with tdracer #2143. Working on the 747 in late 1960s we all joked that “Quality is king but the schedule is GOD”. With all due respect to his post #2149 , I disagree; DERs were answerable to the FAA, DAs answer to Boeing and “If self-regulation worked God would have given Moses ten guidelines”.
Be that as it may JTSB findings on ANA’s 16 January 2013 battery failure reach no firm conclusions but clearly imply that Boeing cut corners on testing and certification. JTSB says FAA should:
a. Provide instruction to airplane manufactures and equipment manufactures to perform equipment tests simulating actual flight operations.
b. Review the technical standards for lithium ion battery to ensure that the electric environment is appropriately simulated, and if necessary, amend the standards.
c. Review the lithium ion battery failure rate estimated during the 787 type certification, and if necessary, based on its result, review the lithium ion battery safety assessment.
d. Review the type certificate for its appropriateness on heat propagation risk.