Alerts Aircraft Operators About New Research Concerning The
Transportation Of Lithium Batteries As Cargo
The FAA issued a Safety Alert for
Operators (SAFO) on Friday alerting 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 the SAFO the FAA summarized 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.
By way of background, the FAA pointed out that testing conducted
by the FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center (FAA Tech Center)
indicates that particular propagation characteristics are
associated with lithium batteries. Overheating has the potential to
create thermal runaway, a chain reaction leading to self-heating
and release of a battery’s stored energy. In a fire
situation, the air temperature in a cargo compartment fire may be
above the auto-ignition temperature of lithium. For this reason,
batteries that are not involved in an initial fire may ignite and
propagate, thus creating a risk of a catastrophic event. The
existence and magnitude of the risk will depend on such factors as
the total number and type of batteries on board an aircraft, the
batteries’ proximity to one another, and existing risk
mitigation measures in place (including the type of fire
suppression system on an aircraft, appropriate packaging and
stowage of batteries, and compliance with existing requirements
contained within both FAA and PHMSA regulations).
It was also noted that the cargo of United Parcel Service Flight
006, which went down in the United Arab Emirates on September 3,
included large quantities of lithium batteries. While the
investigation of that accident is still underway, and its cause has
not been determined, the agency says it feels it is pertinent to
advise operators of that fact.
The FAA recommends that that all air carriers institute
additional procedures for safely transporting lithium batteries by
aircraft. The agency says operators should:
- Request customers to identify bulk shipments of currently
excepted lithium batteries by information on airway bills and other
documents provided by shippers offering shipments of lithium
batteries.
- Where feasible and appropriate, stow bulk shipments of lithium
batteries in Class C cargo compartments or in locations where
alternative fire suppression is available.
- Evaluate the training, stowage, and communication protocols in
your operation with respect to the transportation of lithium
batteries in the event of an unrelated fire.
- Pay special attention to ensuring careful handling and
compliance with existing regulations covering the air
transportation of Class 9 hazardous materials, including lithium
batteries.
These recommendations are limited to lithium batteries
transported in the cargo hold of an aircraft (including cargo holds
that are not distinct from the flight deck), and do not apply to
lithium batteries carried onboard by passengers and crewmembers, or
otherwise stowed in the passenger cabin of the aircraft. The FAA
says these recommendations are not exclusive, and it hopes that
carriers will use the information provided in the SAFO and the Tech
Center study, together with any other available information, to
consider other reasonable measures they believe appropriate to
mitigate the risk of transporting lithium batteries by air.