SEATTLE – Boeing Co. said Monday that it has asked the Federal Aviation Administration for permission to fly test flights of its 787 Dreamliner. The FAA said it is evaluating the request.

The FAA is likely to grant Boeing’s request as early as Monday evening and a 787 could fly again later this week, according to sources with knowledge of the matter.

The initial flight tests will gather data on the operation of the troubled lithium ion battery system, the cause of the worldwide fleet grounding that’s now into its third week.