Airline Pilot Central Forums - Fedex

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Fedex - Lithium batteries

I just carried about 75 lbs. of these batteries from Asia to the U.S. I've heard of guys carrying much larger shipments. I’m not real happy about that but I don’t think we really have the option to refuse at this point.

I’d like some opinions on our current procedures (or lack of as the case may be) and observations from the line.

We currently ID these batteries as Misc-9 and they’re considered IDG (for the non-purple: they don’t have to be accessible to the crew).

Unless you dig into the position summaries and actually look at all your Misc-9 DG, you’ll never even know you’re carrying a pallet of L-I batteries.

Since they’re IDG, I guess we can carry them anywhere on the aircraft (belly or main deck).

The current issue of Air Ops has a small article that basically says they’re working on addressing battery shipments (the check’s in the mail) and the FSS can put out a fire in a shipment of laptops with L-I batteries. It doesn’t specific main deck FSS or lower cargo FSS, so I assume both. It implies that the FSS will not put out a pallet of batteries.

Should we have some kind of procedure in place to notify us when we’re carrying pallets of L-I batteries?
If you knew you had batteries loaded in a position that indicated a fire, would you do something different from the same situation involving other cargo?
They can’t be mixed with other ADG but should they be required to be ADG (accessible)?

Finally (as I get up on the soapbox) – I’m amazed we’re carrying these thing given their history. The fact that we do just because current regulations allow it doesn’t seem to mesh with our new focus on safety, blue threat, etc. Are we really making that much money carrying L-I batteries that it’s worth the loss of an aircraft and crew?

Submit a safety report....spin around three times....count to twenty, and wait for VP of Safety to commission someone to investigate. He will eventually get promoted to SVP, and we'll still be carrying LI batteries because the company makes too much $$ carrying them......."we haven't lost an aircraft yet........" :)

I asked to have it listed on the ADG like the "Lives on Board in F2" but never heard anything back.
I think that would get your attention to see "Lithium Batteries on Board in Position 3". Would that be acceptable to everyone? If so, I say we push for something like that.
Maybe refuse a couple pallets to get their attention??? That's usually the only way things get fixed around here.

Wrote my US senators about this subject after the UPS and Asiana accidents. Suggested that laws be passed prohibiting lithium battery carriage by US carriers. Both senators refused to initiate any legislation in this regard. It's all about the money and profit margins. Sad that our congressional leaders won't do anything about lithium batteries and airplanes.

not a cargo guy but I saw some sort of "expose" article regarding exploding cell phone batteries from China on 20/20 or 60 minutes type show a few months ago.

Quote:

Originally Posted by satpak77 (Post 1100662)

not a cargo guy but I saw some sort of "expose" article regarding exploding cell phone batteries from China on 20/20 or 60 minutes type show a few months ago.

Wow! That must be your real picture and not just your avatar!:D

Quote:

Originally Posted by Left Coast MD11 (Post 1100615)

I think that would get your attention to see "Lithium Batteries on Board in Position 3". Would that be acceptable to everyone? If so, I say we push for something like that.

I like it ... :D

Quote:

Originally Posted by Left Coast MD11 (Post 1100615)

That would be too hard of a "programming" issue to overcome!! :rolleyes:

I hate to say this but had UPS or Asiana ploughed into a town or school killing people on the ground, the rules would be changed. The speed of the change would be directly connected to how many 'innocent' people died.

You as a pilot are not innocent and you are an evil money grabber who barely works and you all make +$250k a year. That unfortunately is public opinion. As long as the general public is not affected nothing will change.

Even the Chevy Volt review will be completed before cargo aircraft.

Look at the Buffalo crash, stalled for years because of big money. If it had been a large aircraft with 300 on board and crashed into a school or a church full of people the rest rules would have changed rapidly. They won't.

The laws are written in blood, the amount of blood and your blood does not count. My opinion is if it's not safe enough to go on a passenger plane it's not safe for cargo either. But no one cares about my opinion now do they?