The US Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has alerted operators to results of new research on the risks associated with transporting lithium batteries as cargo on aircraft and recommended actions air carriers can take to reduce those risks. In a Safety Alert For Operators (SAFO), the FAA summarised recent research which shows that lithium metal (non-rechargeable) and lithium-ion (rechargeable) batteries are highly flammable and capable of igniting during air transport under certain circumstances. The research also indicates that Halon 1301, the suppression agent found in Class C cargo compartments, is ineffective in suppressing lithium metal battery fires.
The SAFO also lays out additional recommended procedures air carriers can institute when transporting lithium batteries at http://www.faa.gov/other_visit/aviation_industry/airline_operators/airline_safety/safo.
DoT issues lithium battery alert
Latest News
Tuesday, 12 October 2010
The US Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has alerted operators to results of new research on the risks associated with transporting lithium batteries as cargo on aircraft and recommended actions air carriers can take to reduce those risks. In a Safety Alert For Operators (SAFO), the FAA summarised recent research which shows that lithium metal (non-rechargeable) and lithium-ion (rechargeable) batteries are highly flammable and capable of igniting during air transport under certain circumstances. The research also indicates that Halon 1301, the suppression agent found in Class C cargo compartments, is ineffective in suppressing lithium metal battery fires.
The SAFO also lays out additional recommended procedures air carriers can institute when transporting lithium batteries at http://www.faa.gov/other_visit/aviation_industry/airline_operators/airline_safety/safo.
