'Spare' Batteries May Not Be Placed In Gate-Checked Luggage

The FAA has issued a Safety Alert for Operators (SAFO) providing information on the carriage of spare lithium batteries in passenger and crewmember personal carry-on and checked baggage including carry-on baggage checked at the gate or from on-board an aircraft.

For this SAFO, “spare” refers to lithium batteries not installed in a portable electronic device.

According to the agency, lithium batteries present a risk of both igniting and fueling fires in aircraft cargo/baggage compartments. To reduce the risk of lithium battery fires, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR), and equivalent International Civil Aviation Organization’s Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods (ICAO TI), prohibit spare lithium batteries from checked baggage (including baggage checked at the gate or on-board the aircraft). The HMR and ICAO TI provide limited exceptions for passengers/crewmembers who carry-on spare lithium batteries intended for personal use.

The FAA strongly urges certificate holders to consider the following actions:
Ensure all crewmembers and ground personnel handling passengers and baggage understand that they must report incidents where fire, violent rupture, explosion, or heat sufficient to be dangerous to packaging or personal safety to include charring of packaging, melting of packaging, scorching of packaging, or other evidence, occurs as a result of a battery or battery-powered device.
During ticket purchase and check-in processes, inform passengers that spare lithium batteries are prohibited from checked baggage (including checked baggage at the gate) and refer passengers to FAA’s Pack Safe website for additional information.
Evaluate training and communication protocols in operations with respect to lithium batteries, personal and medical electronic devices, and mobility aids.

(Source: FAA SAFO)

FMI: www.faa.gov/Go/Packsafe