Scenario, hypothetical of course

Boss wants to take company airplane and camera crew, along with upteen lithium batteries, "power packs", backpack size stuff, etc etc on a trip in support of his daughters wedding. Airlines already said no to above camera crew due to batteries and stuff.

Airplane is not a Global Express or BBJ (size), it is cabin of a Citation II.

Boss says "his plane" is Part 91, so it is "not a problem."

Besides the PIC discretion regarding safety (while is probably gonna be a "no"), what regulations apply to this situation (lithium batteries). Is Part 91 truly exempt or what ?

Sorry in advance, my fluency in taking a boat-load of batteries and power packs is not the highest.

Thanks

My experience with the FAA on Part 91 is they don't care terribly much. But, you are NOT exempt from physics. There is a FAA SAFO letter on their website with guidance on Li-ON battery carriage. Basically, they can be carried if undamaged, charged on the ground satisfactorily, and accessible in flight. New batteries, in factory packaging are also considered safe. The photogs might have the option of renting equipment at the location as an option.

Here it is:

http://www.faa.gov/news/press_releas.../safo10017.pdf

GF

Thank you GF, as always you have the answers !

thanks

Our HAZMAT training (will not carry) describes Lithium battery carraige as:

- Small lithium and L-ion batts are allowed onboard so long as spare batteries are protected from damage and short circuit. Each must conform to the following:

- For lithium metal battery, a lithium content of not more than 2 grams per battery; and

- For lithium-ion battery, an aggregate lithium content of not more than 8 grams per battery, except that with up to 2 batteries with an aggregate lithium content of more than 8 grams but not more than 25 grams may be carried.

(FSI e-learning is the source)

Satpak77,

PM an email address and I will find an article from the FSF BASS presentation or, at least, the guidance I put out to my crews. There is an FAA limit on Li-ON electrical power for on-board battery carriage. It might take a day or two to email back.

The power limits are 160Watt/Hr per battery, not more than 2 per person, no restriction if installed in personal electronic devices (PED). A laptop battery is about 50-80 W/Hr for comparison. Cameras, depending on size might be considered PEDs. Those are the IATA guidelines for passenger planes.

GF

Here's a FAA document that will help you with the Boss.

http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/...ersAndCrew.pdf

GF

There are also several well known companies that rent, professional motion picture type cameras, such as Otto Nemenz, which has been around forever. Although the legalities will take precedence, they might offer some useful insight.

I think where it goes wrong with these things is that they are highly susceptible to problems when they have damage issues. How many times have they been dropped, smashed in a bag, etc. without being replaced (my own batteries included.)? Camera guys are not exactly gentle (I've worked with several crews in the past...even had an appearance on the CBS morning show on a segment called "Day in the Life of a Rock Star." We took an unsuspecting person from Miami to Vancouver in a C604 to meet Sheryl Crow and John Mayer. ) They shot in flight as well so we had cameras, wires, tripods, and packs all over the interior.

Side note - had an owner that wanted to bring 12 gallons of chlorine and muriatic acid to service his pool in the Bahamas. Apparently those chemicals are expensive there. Not as expensive as a business jet, mind you.