Cargolux Bans Lithium-ion Batteries
#1
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Aug 2012
Posts: 711
Cargolux Bans Lithium-ion Batteries
Anyone have information on where the policies of U.S. freight airlines are heading in the near future? A mid-oceanic lithium battery fire is very bad news.
Does the FAA have any rule making in progress on the carriage of lithium batteries?
From Flight Global:
http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/cargolux-bans-lithium-ion-batteries-after-fire-analysis-411658/?cmpid=NLC%7CFGFG%7CFGFIN-2015-0505-GLOB&sfid=70120000000taAh
Freight operator Cargolux is preparing to suspend transport of lithium-ion battery consignments in light of recent re-assessment of the potential hazards they pose.
Cargolux has reviewed data from ICAO, the US FAA and Boeing centred on the effectiveness of on-board extinguishing systems against lithium battery fires.
Last August the FAA presented the results of a full-scale fire test, using a Boeing 727 freighter, to an air safety forum.
The test showed that containment of a lithium-ion fire on the main deck was “marginal” while a blaze involving lithium metal cells was not contained.
Cargolux had already banned the carriage of lithium metal cells.
But it says that analysis of fire-extinguishing system capabilities and the temperature that lithium-ion batteries can reach have spurred the airline to impose a temporary suspension on transport of such batteries from 1 May.
“To lift the ban as soon as possible, Cargolux will assess different options to identify if technology exists – or if new technology can be developed – in order to make the transportation of bulk shipments of lithium batteries safe,” says the carrier.
Cargolux operates a fleet of 23 Boeing 747-8 and 747-400 freighters. Lithium batteries are suspected to have been involved in two fatal cargo 747 fires in the past five years.
Lithium-ion batteries contained in other equipment will be exempt from the suspension, says the carrier.
Does the FAA have any rule making in progress on the carriage of lithium batteries?
From Flight Global:
http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/cargolux-bans-lithium-ion-batteries-after-fire-analysis-411658/?cmpid=NLC%7CFGFG%7CFGFIN-2015-0505-GLOB&sfid=70120000000taAh
Freight operator Cargolux is preparing to suspend transport of lithium-ion battery consignments in light of recent re-assessment of the potential hazards they pose.
Cargolux has reviewed data from ICAO, the US FAA and Boeing centred on the effectiveness of on-board extinguishing systems against lithium battery fires.
Last August the FAA presented the results of a full-scale fire test, using a Boeing 727 freighter, to an air safety forum.
The test showed that containment of a lithium-ion fire on the main deck was “marginal” while a blaze involving lithium metal cells was not contained.
Cargolux had already banned the carriage of lithium metal cells.
But it says that analysis of fire-extinguishing system capabilities and the temperature that lithium-ion batteries can reach have spurred the airline to impose a temporary suspension on transport of such batteries from 1 May.
“To lift the ban as soon as possible, Cargolux will assess different options to identify if technology exists – or if new technology can be developed – in order to make the transportation of bulk shipments of lithium batteries safe,” says the carrier.
Cargolux operates a fleet of 23 Boeing 747-8 and 747-400 freighters. Lithium batteries are suspected to have been involved in two fatal cargo 747 fires in the past five years.
Lithium-ion batteries contained in other equipment will be exempt from the suspension, says the carrier.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post