UPS Accident In Dubai May Be The Catalyst For New Rules

The apparent cargo fire which is being investigated as a factor in the recent downing of a UPS 747 freighter in Dubai may lead to tighter regulations on the transportation of lithium batteries. Sources close to the investigation say new regulations could affect nearly every shipper in the U.S.

The UPS 747 went down September 3rd after the pilots reported smoke in the cockpit. Both pilots were fatally injured in the accident.

The new regulations under consideration would require special packaging and other measures on batteries and products that have them installed, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal. It would also be increasingly difficult to ship large quantities of the batteries on a single plane. The plane which went down enroute from Hong Kong to Cologne, Germany after a stop in Dubai reportedly was carrying a large shipment of consumer electronic devices.

Meanwhile the Abu Dhabi newspaper The National reports that preliminary analysis of the CVR and FDR from the accident aircraft indicated there was a "fire warning" on board the airplane about 28 minutes after takeoff from Dubai. The crew then told controllers that they were experiencing "cockpit visibility and communications problems" before declaring an emergency.

UPS 747 File Photo

The recorders are being analyzed by the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) in UAE. Investigators said the pilot was unable to change frequencies after crossing in to Barhaini airspace, which made it impossible to re-establish communications with ATC in Dubai as they attempted to return to Dubai International Airport. The cause of the radio problem is part of the ongoing investigation.

FMI: www.gcaa.ae/en/Pages/Default.aspx