Lion Batteries

[Rob Vuona SOC]

A friend of mine just emailed this to me:

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ICAO PROPOSES HAZARDOUS CARGO RULES

 

14-Feb-2012

THE Dangerous Goods Panel at the UN’s International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has agreed on new rules for the shipping of lithium batteries.

“I’ve been working on lithium batteries for 10 years and this is the biggest development to date,” Mark Rogers, head of hazardous-materials handling issues for the Air Line Pilots Association union, and a member of the ICAO panel, says.

Under the proposed ICAO standards, all lithium battery shipments will have to be labeled as hazardous material. Companies wanting to ship batteries must train employees on how to handle the shipments.

“It is imperative that countries strictly enforce these new regulations that go into effect on 1 January 2013, or the hard work by the ICAO Panel will be for naught,” the Rechargeable Battery Association comments.

The group previously said proposed US regulations were too costly and would not improve safety. Since then, in February this this year, US Congress passed an aviation bill restricting US regulators from imposing rules stricter than those set by the ICAO.

Lithium batteries have been suspected as the cause of a fire on a UPS freighter on 7 February 2006. The pilots were not injured. Separately, a UPS 747-400, which caught fire 22 minutes after it left Dubai (UAE) on 3 September 2010, was carrying more than 81,000 lithium batteries. The freighter crashed, killing two pilots.

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I wonder if that means all Lion batteries regardless of the size or amount . Wouldn't that have to include all cell phone batteries as well ?

[Brant S. Fagan SOC]

Let's see what Paul Dudeck at Anton/Bauer has to comment on this development. Of all people on this Forum, he will have accurate and complete information.

[Robert Starling SOC]

Considering all the L-ion batteries in our daily lives a plane with 200 people on-board could have 400-600 small L-ion batteries on it when you count cellphones, laptops, iPads, iPods, kids games, shavers, vibrators, Kindles etc..

 

If shipping gets any more stringent, Anton Bauer would be smart to consider a local market battery "timeshare" program where if you own batteries in your market you have access to other batteries in another market.

 

Robert

[Louis Puli SOC]

Hi everyone

In Australia the ACS (Australian cinematographers society ) and Qantas drafted a letter which I carry with me when I fly (just in case ) which limits only 2x 160wh Lithium to be carried onboard and no quantity restriction for 100wh or less to be in hand luggage.

Fly safe

Louis Puli

684-11_Lithium_Batteries_Approval_Australian_Cinematographers_Society_LAW.pdf

[pauldudeck]

Hi Guys,

 

This exact subject has been up for debate for a few years now. It was supposed to take place in Q4 2011, but then it got pushed off. I have not heard that it is 100% approved for 2013, but I am sure that is what they would like to do.

 

I am doing more investigating, but our people are in contact with the proper organizations all the time. Whenever there is a lithium ion "incident" or changes to rules, we are immediately notified.

 

Thank you.

Paul