Another Boeing 787 Dreamliner Has a Battery Problem

Japan Airlines grounded a Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft today “after detecting smoke or gases that may have come from faults with the main battery,” according to the BBC.

Last year, all 787s were grounded for three months, CBS reports, after a “fire in a lithium ion battery aboard a Japan Airlines 787 parked at Boston’s Logan International Airport. That was followed nine days later by another battery incident that forced an emergency landing in Japan by an All Nippon Airways 787.Today’s battery problem was noticed during scheduled maintenance. No passengers were on board the plane at the time.

According to the Los Angeles Times, “The lithium-ion battery system was found to ‘venting’ gas while the plane sat at Narita International Airport in Japan, Boeing said.”

NBC Looking For Contestants For New Show Hosted By Bear Grylls

NBC has put out a casting call for a new reality show that promises to be quite an adventure. The unnamed show will be hosted by Bear Grylls of “Man vs. Wild” fame and features a large cash prize, although just how large remains to be seen.

The show’s format sounds vaguely familiar with the premise being that teams of two will be dropped in a remote location and will have to learn to exist in the wild while racing against others towards a finish line. The description indicates that the competitors will need to work together as a team, while maintaining their courage and determination, in order to avoid being eliminated. That seems to indicate that there will be distinct stages and challenges for the competition, not unlike CBS’s popular show “The Amazing Race.”

To audition for the show simply email the names of the two people on your team as well as the nature of your relationship, to bearshowcasting@gmail.com. The email should also include brief bios, occupations, contact info, photos and a note as to why you should be picked to be on the show. Contestants must be legal residents of the United States and 21-years of age or older on February 2013. A valid U.S. passport is also a requirement, which seems to indicate that this adventure will take place in a foreign country.

In the press release info that I received, the show is being billed as the “Ultimate Outdoor Adventure Competition.” If that sounds like it’s your cup of tea, than blast out that email ASAP. Now if only we can get a “Team Gadling” into the competition.

[Photo credit: Bear Grylls]

Video of the Day: Wind in Palm Springs overwhelms reporter

We’ve all had unpleasant weather ruin a trip. But imagine having to record a news report during epic winds. Well, that’s what CBS reporter Marissa Mike was trying to do recently in Palm Springs. Unfortunately, her insistence on wearing a hat and confusion over what to call a traffic signal made filing her report about the wind quite difficult. The winds themselves had something to do with that, too, of course.

The lesson here, of course, is that news reports about weather serve no purpose other than to embarrass local journalists. If the weather was that dangerous, the Emergency Broadcast System would start beeping, we would all mute our televisions because we’d think it was only a test and we’d all be killed.

[Via Huffington Post]

Cruise line boss leaves boardroom, sneaks around ships

Norwegian Cruise Lines President and CEO Kevin Sheehan has worn a lot of hats in his professional career. From helping found Spanish-language television network Telemundo to taking several companies public, he built a reputation for a tell-it-like-it-is persona. A philosophy of leading by example might just be tested this week though as the native New Yorker takes on an episode of CBS’ Undercover Boss.

Since taking over as boss of Norwegian Cruise Line in 2008, Sheehan has overseen big changes including the launch of new Norwegian Epic last Summer. But on January 2, 2011 he will be at sea with some different hats on. Hosting one of the line’s signature White Hot Parties, he’ll lead more than 1,000 guests in a line dance. Working alongside a deck repairman we’ll watch as Sheehan sneaks around ships trying to look like everybody else.

CBS’s pseudo-reality series, Undercover Boss, features a high-ranking executive posing as an entry-level worker in the company they manage. Camera crews, lights and associated production stuff is passed off as part of a “documentary” about what it’s like to be the new guy at work. Previous companies featured include Frontier Airlines, Johnny Rockets, Subway Restaurants and Direct-TV.

The show airs January 2, 2011 at 9:00PM Eastern.