Union: Ban Lithium Batteries on Planes

(AP)  The world's largest pilots union said Tuesday it wants bulk shipments of lithium batteries and products containing the batteries banned from passenger and cargo planes because they can start a fire.

In seeking a federal ban, the Air Line Pilots Association pointed to three incidents since June in which lithium battery shipments apparently caused fires aboard U.S. planes.

On Aug. 14, a fire in a shipment of 1,000 e-cigarettes - a battery-powered device that provides inhaled doses of nicotine - was discovered in the cargo compartment of a plane after it landed at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. Each cigarette contained a rechargeable lithium-ion battery.

In another instance, a package of cell phone batteries shipped from Michigan to the Dominican Republican was found smoking and smoldering after a United Parcel Service plane landed in Santo Domingo on July 15. The package documentation indicated "used batteries - non-haz."

A burned package containing a lithium-ion "bicycle-power device" was discovered in the cargo of a UPS flight from Ontario, Calif., to Honolulu on June 18, the union said.

"The evidence of a clear and present danger is mounting," Mark Rogers, director of the union's dangerous good program, said in a statement. "We need an immediate ban on these dangerous goods to protect airline passengers, crews and cargo."

The union emphasized that it is not seeking a ban on passengers carrying electronic devices containing lithium batteries onto planes, such as laptop computers, cell phones, and cameras. Instead, the union's concern is with cargo containing multiple batteries, either loose or inside products.

If a battery short-circuits, it can catch fire and that fire can ignite other batteries.

John Prater, the union's president, said in a letter to Cynthia Douglass, acting deputy administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, that an immediate ban on shipments is necessary until the agency can develop regulations for safe packaging of the batteries for transport.

He noted that Douglass told a House panel this spring that the safety administration is working on new regulations for the shipment of lithium batteries. However, he said that if the government doesn't act quickly, the union will ask Congress to step in.

Officials for the safety administration didn't immediately return a phone call seeking comment.

Prater said the three recent incidents are similar to a Feb. 7, 2006, incident in which a UPS DC-8 made an emergency landing at Philadelphia International Airport after the flight crew detected smoke in the cargo hold, which worsened as the plane descended. The plane landed safely and the crew escaped with minor injuries, but the plane and most of the cargo were destroyed.

"We have been most fortunate that the lithium-ion battery malfunctions (in the three recent incidents) didn't cause an accident, but luck is not a sound safety strategy," Prater said.

The Federal Aviation Administration no longer permits large, pallet-size shipments of lithium-metal batteries on passenger planes. Airline passengers are not allowed to pack loose lithium batteries in checked luggage. Consumer electronics containing lithium batteries are still allowed in carry-on and checked luggage. However, passengers are limited to two spare lithium batteries in carry-on baggage.

[olitenup]

Well, now there are two pilots dead (UPS -Dubai) and the investigation is focusing on what? lithium ion batteries. So maybe, just maybe, the pilots, the FAA really do have something to worry about, on your behalf.

[rf35]

Just another argument for a high-speed rail network in the USA. If the FAA does go overboard and ban all LI batteries, you'll see a lot of people suddenly finding trains more attractive. I doubt that will be the case, though. I think the FAA realizes that flying is nearing the point already where it's not worth the trouble and more people are only flying if there is no other reasonable alternative.

[barbaram99]

Here we go again..

[culturechang]

This will eventually slide into a ban of all batteries for passengers with portable electronic device.

[Jim1900]

I have been worrying about lithium batteries on planes for years. They are probably safe enough for passengers, but it wouldn't be at all difficult for a terrorist to simply short out some batteries in the cargo hold and bring the plane down. It would do more for our security to ban such shipments than to invade a Middle Eastern country at random.

[ToolMangler1]

Tha Union Recommends a Ban until the packaging problem can be solved. To me, this is "NOT" a knee jerk reaction by the FAA.
"The Federal Aviation Administration no longer permits large, pallet-size shipments of lithium-metal batteries on passenger planes. Airline passengers are not allowed to pack loose lithium batteries in checked luggage. Consumer electronics containing lithium batteries are still allowed in carry-on and checked luggage. However, passengers are limited to two spare lithium batteries in carry-on baggage."


Remember 'I' might be on that plane and precautions are fine with me.....

[platteman]

Wow, how will they stop everyone from taking their cell phones with them. Industry would come to a halt.
Lipo batteries can be dangerous, we use them to fly model airplanes. Treated with respect they are safe and present no problems.
Again more knee jerk and idiot reaction to minor problem.

[rabigyin]

Can we have clarification as to what constitutes a "shipment", an individual with less than 12 or so or are we talking of cases?

[Sloughfoot]

Sorry, but with the knee jerk reaction you can expect from FAA a complete ban on all lithium batteries is more likely then a clarification.

[bobnjersey]

[Sorry, but with the knee jerk reaction you can expect from FAA a complete ban on all lithium batteries is more likely then a clarification. ]

this would mean nearly every ipod, cell phone, smart phone, and all other relatively new small electronic device would be banned from the plane ... since they all use lithium batteries.