Comments Are Due To The FAA By August 29

The FAA has published a draft policy (ANM-113-10-004) on the certification of permanently installed rechargeable lithium batteries.

The policy memo provides guidance on permanently installed (part of the type certificate or supplemental type certificate) rechargeable lithium batteries or rechargeable lithium battery systems and their protective circuitry used on transport-category aircraft.

According to the document, increased use of rechargeable lithium batteries and battery systems located in many areas of the aircraft has prompted the FAA to review the adequacy of existing regulations. The FAA's review indicates the existing regulations do not adequately address several failure, operation and maintenance characteristics of newly developed batteries and battery systems, which could affect the safety and reliability of the electronics-system installation. Specifically, this policy addresses new batteries and battery systems requirements not adequately addressed in Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations 25.1353. Special conditions may be required for these systems.

The intent of the policy is to establish when special conditions will be proposed and what the proposed special conditions will be, as well as to provide a standardized approach on how to show compliance for these newly developed battery and battery systems, including their installations. This policy also will ensure, as required by §25.601 and §25.1309, that they do not represent a hazard to the aircraft and its occupants.

According to the FAA, the general policy stated in the document does not constitute a new regulation. The FAA official who implements this policy should follow this policy when it is applicable to a specific project. Whenever a proposed method of compliance is outside this established policy, that official has to coordinate it with the policy-issuing office using an issue paper.

Applicants should expect that certificating officials would consider this information when making findings of compliance relevant to new certification. In addition, as with all advisory material, this statement of policy identifies one means, but not the only means, of compliance. Any alternate means of compliance must be coordinated between the Aircraft Certification Office and Transport Airplane Directorate. The FAA has concluded that current regulations may not adequately address all of the safety concerns of newly developed batteries and battery systems, and their effects on other systems. In the event that data are presented to the FAA which demonstrate otherwise, the intent and content of this policy may be reconsidered.

FMI: www.faa.gov