英闻天下——250 Long Road ahead for Dreamliners Batteries Probe

 　　U.S. safety regulators say they have a "long road ahead" in their investigation¹ into the lithium ion battery problems on Boeing's 787 Dreamliners.

 

　　The head of the National Transportation Safety Board says they will file their interim² findings in 30 days.

 

　　Deborah Hersman says investigators³ have pinpointed⁴ the origin of a battery fire on a 787 in Boston last month.

 

　　However, investigators have not yet determined⁵ the cause of the short circuit which led to the fire.

 

　　Hersman says Boeing is going to have to review its use of this particular battery technology.

 

　　"Boeing assessed that the likelihood of a smoke emission⁶ event from a 787 battery would occur less than once in every 10 million flight hours. The 787 fleet has accumulated less than 100,000 flight hours, yet there have now been two battery events resulting in smoke less than two weeks apart on two different aircraft. This investigation has demonstrated that a short circuit in a single cell can propagate two adjacent cells and result in smoke and fire. The assumptions used to certify⁷ the battery must be reconsidered."

 

　　The 50 Dreamliners in service have been grounded since January 16th due to the battery failures.

 

　　The Federal Aviation Administration has carried out a test flight of a 787 to see if any battery problems crop up.

 

　　Boeing is reportedly trying to find ways to mitigate⁸ and contain a fire if one starts in the batteries.

 

　　None of the 787's on-order for Chinese airlines has yet to be delivered.

1 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

2 interim   

adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间

参考例句：

• The government is taking interim measures to help those in immediate need.政府正在采取临时措施帮助那些有立即需要的人。
• It may turn out to be an interim technology.这可能只是个过渡技术。

3 investigators   

n.调查者，审查者( investigator的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• This memo could be the smoking gun that investigators have been looking for. 这份备忘录可能是调查人员一直在寻找的证据。
• The team consisted of six investigators and two secretaries. 这个团队由六个调查人员和两个秘书组成。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 pinpointed   

准确地找出或描述( pinpoint的过去式和过去分词 )； 为…准确定位

参考例句：

• His refusal to help simply pinpointed his cowardice. 他拒绝帮助正显示他的胆小。
• Computers pinpointed where the shells were coming from. 计算机确定了炮弹发射的位置。

5 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

6 emission   

n.发出物，散发物；发出，散发

参考例句：

• Rigorous measures will be taken to reduce the total pollutant emission.采取严格有力措施，降低污染物排放总量。
• Finally,the way to effectively control particulate emission is pointed out.最后，指出有效降低颗粒排放的方向。

7 certify   

vt.证明，证实；发证书(或执照)给

参考例句：

• I can certify to his good character.我可以证明他品德好。
• This swimming certificate is to certify that I can swim one hundred meters.这张游泳证是用以证明我可以游100米远。

8 mitigate   

vt.（使）减轻，（使）缓和

参考例句：

• The government is trying to mitigate the effects of inflation.政府正试图缓和通货膨胀的影响。
• Governments should endeavour to mitigate distress.政府应努力缓解贫困问题。