The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have issued fire safety videos about potential risks inherent in lithium batteries.
The videos highlight fire risks of lithium batteries on board and on ground caused by improper transportation. The safety guides show different scenarios to demonstrate how aviation staff and cargo personnel should handle lithium batteries and react in critical situations.
CAA and FAA said that lithium-ion batteries are generally safe, but warned that they can pose a fire risk when damaged due to their high energy levels.
“We know that incorrectly packaged or counterfeit lithium batteries are a potential fire risk. The CAA and FAA have, therefore, launched this industry awareness campaign to help manage that risk,” said Mark Swan, CAA’s head of safety and airspace regulation.
In 2010, a passenger seat on board of an Air France flight caught fire, because a passenger’s lithium battery had fallen down the side of a seat and was crushed when the seat was reclined.
“We would like airline passengers themselves to reduce risks by only taking on board lithium batteries that have been purchased from legitimate outlets and carry any spare batteries in hand baggage packed in individual plastic bags or containers; not in items checked in as hold baggage,” added Swan.
German research centre KIT recently warned about safety issues of residential batteries integrated in storage systems.
