After almost four years of commercial service for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, federal regulators warned a software bug could result in a total loss of electrical power for the Dreamliner, causing the pilot to lose control of the aircraft in the middle of a flight.

The Federal Aviation Administration issued a directive requiring “a repetitive maintenance task” for the Dreamliner, revealing Boeing’s laboratory tests discovered all of the 787’s power systems could suddenly shut down during a flight under certain circumstances.

The problem can occur after an aircraft remains connected on board or to ground-based electric power without a break for 248 consecutive days. To combat the potential issue, the FAA is ordering operators to periodically shut down power systems.

The FAA’s order is the latest complication for the aircraft involving its electrical systems. In January 2013, two Japanese airlines experienced fire or smoke emergencies from overheating batteries, prompting the grounding of Boeing’s global 787 fleet until operators could demonstrate batteries were safe and in compliance. The FAA cleared the aircraft to resume flying by April 2013 with fixes to its battery system. Qatar Airways and other carriers also reported failures with the aircraft’s main electrical panel that led to the grounding or delay of flights.

Boeing has delivered more than 260 Dreamliners to airliners around the world. The company recently notified operators about the problematic software and recommended airlines voluntarily turn off power systems at least every four months.

Applying to more than two dozen Dreamliner aircraft flown by U.S. airlines, the FAA’s directive requires mechanics to temporarily turn off electrical systems on aircraft to briefly “deactivate” them. Boeing expects to provide a software update to correct the issue later this year.

Will the FAA order affect your plans to fly the Boeing 787 Dreamliner? Why or why not? Email us. Please include your full name and location with your email.