Calls Threat Of Fire An 'Unacceptable Risk'

An airline industry position paper released by the  International Coordination Council of Aerospace Industry Associations (ICCAIA) and the International Federation of Air Line Pilots Associations calls for a formal ban on the bulk shipments of lithium-ion and lithium-metal batteries in the cargo holds of passenger airliners.

The ICCAIA represents such planemakers as Boeing and Airbus. It additionally called for stronger regulations regarding the packaging and handling of the batteries shipped on cargo aircraft.

The paper calls the shipments on passenger airplanes an "unacceptable risk," and points out that aircraft tests show that fire protection systems on airplanes are "unable to suppress or extinguish a fire involving significant quantities of lithium batteries, resulting in reduced time available for safe flight and landing of an aircraft to a diversion airport. Therefore, continuing to allow the carriage of lithium batteries within today's transport category aircraft cargo compartments is an unacceptable risk to the air transport industry."

Both Delta and United Airlines have banned lithium battery shipments on board their passenger planes.

The Associated Press reports that in 2012, Congress passed a law that says U.S. regulators cannot impose rules that concerning battery shipments that are more stringent that those approved by the ICAO unless it can be proven that a battery shipment caused a fire that led to an accident. While recent incidents involving cargo planes destroyed by fire in which the batteries are suspected, the damage has been so extensive that investigators have been unable to prove that the batteries were the cause of the fire.

(Image captured from FAA video)

FMI: www.faa.gov