FAA endorses global ban on batteries that cause fires on planes - lithium battery manufacturers
The Federal Aviation Administration has approved a global ban on the transportation of lithium.
The ion battery on the plane, a practice accused of shooting down two jets when the battery caught fire.
A battery manufacturer trade group has warned that the ban could disrupt the flow of batteries on medical devices, mobile phones, laptops, power tools and other electronic devices.
The ban will apply to bulk goods, not to electronic devices that people carry on aircraft.
Fire that crashed two Boeing 747
1 Dubai in 2010, 1 South Korea in 2011
Was blamed on battery transport.
On 2013, after a series of batteries caught fire, the FAA shut down the entire fleet of Boeing 787.
The International Civil Aviation Organization decided on Monday to impose a global ban on their goods.
The group chose to stop shipping until at least 2018 in order to develop better fire protection systems on aircraft that may contain fires in the event of battery ignition. “The U. S.
The Department of Transport supports the decision of the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization to prohibit the transportation of lithium-ion batteries as goods on passenger planes before developing a safer means of transport, "Namrata Kolachalam, a dot spokesman said in a statement released Monday night.
"This is a necessary action to protect passengers, crew members and aircraft from current aviation safety risks.
"Transportation of lithium --
Ion batteries are the subject of several intense exchanges this month as the House Transportation Committee debate a bill to re-authorize the FAA funds.
The bill will continue to ban the use of batteries by the FAA.
On 2012, Congress responded to the battery industry by telling the FAA that it could not impose any restrictions on goods that exceeded ICAO operations.
When Congress debated the FAA bill this month, lawmakers who wanted to ban batteries said they did not put the benefits of the battery industry ahead of voter safety. Rep. John L. Mica (R-Fla. )
He wrote clause 2012, by showing his cell phone and reminding committee members that millions of people fly with these devices on a daily basis without any accidents.
The actions of the ICAO seem to make this argument meaningless because, by law, the FAA is allowed to follow the ICAO ban on batteries.
Congress may take more steps to protect the battery industry, but with the current FAA re-authorization, the extension of funds, apparently stalled in Congress, and the law approved in 2012 will determine the United States.
The pilot union and aircraft manufacturers called for a ban on battery transportation after last year's FAA test showed there was a danger with battery transportation.
Many airlines have refused to accept bulk shipping.
Tests have shown that when batteries overheat they emit explosive gases, and when they ignite, the aircraft's Halon fire extinguishing system cannot control the fire.
The Rechargeable Battery Association said on Monday that the ban, which will come into effect on April 1, will "cause significant disruption to the logistics supply chain ". ”