Dreamliner problems 2013: FAA approves proposal for fixing Dreamliner battery woes

WASHINGTON - The Federal Aviation Administration on Tuesday approved a proposed remedy for problems that triggered battery fires and led to the grounding of Boeing's 787 Dreamliner.

The agency said it had signed off on a plan by the world's biggest aircraft manufacturer to redesign the wide body's lithium-ion battery system.

"The certification plan is the first step in the process to evaluate the 787's return to flight and requires Boeing to conduct extensive testing and analysis to demonstrate compliance with the applicable safety regulations and special conditions," the FAA said in a statement.

Boeing's newest and most advanced commercial jetliner was ground in January by regulators worldwide after two battery-related fires damaged 787s in Boston and in Japan. No passengers or crew were hurt in either incident.

There are only 50 787s flying worldwide, but Boeing has orders for several hundred and fixing the problem was a top priority.