News Content
IATA urges air carriers to assess risks related to battery transport
THE International Air Transport Association (IATA) is recommending operators of aircraft to assess risks associated with the transport of lithium batteries in cargo, mail and passenger baggage.
Release of IATA's "Lithium Battery Risk Mitigation Guidance for Operators" comes at a time when safety regulators are sounding the alarm about risk of fire and explosions from bulk battery shipments.
Stringent international requirements apply to their manufacture, testing and transport. "Providing these standards are complied with, lithium batteries are very safe," says IATA in its report.
However, because lithium batteries have become such a common, everyday item, little thought is given to the precautions that need to be taken to ensure they do not pose a hazard in air transport.
"This is an issue in passenger baggage, but even more so in air cargo," says IATA, adding, "Experience has shown that there are shippers who, either deliberately or through ignorance, do not follow the requirements. Consequently, incidents involving lithium batteries catching fire on board aircraft have occurred."
On February 7, 2006, UPS DC-8, Philadelphia, the aircraft landed safely, but was destroyed by fire which had started in the descent.
On September 3, 2010, UPS Boeing 747, in Dubai, the aircraft crashed during an attempt to return to Dubai due to a severe inflight fire, killing both crewmen.
On July 27, 2011, Asiana Boeing 747, 130 kilometres west of Jeju Airport, South Korea, crashed after a severe inflight fire occurred, killing the two-man crew.
Release of IATA's "Lithium Battery Risk Mitigation Guidance for Operators" comes at a time when safety regulators are sounding the alarm about risk of fire and explosions from bulk battery shipments.
Stringent international requirements apply to their manufacture, testing and transport. "Providing these standards are complied with, lithium batteries are very safe," says IATA in its report.
However, because lithium batteries have become such a common, everyday item, little thought is given to the precautions that need to be taken to ensure they do not pose a hazard in air transport.
"This is an issue in passenger baggage, but even more so in air cargo," says IATA, adding, "Experience has shown that there are shippers who, either deliberately or through ignorance, do not follow the requirements. Consequently, incidents involving lithium batteries catching fire on board aircraft have occurred."
On February 7, 2006, UPS DC-8, Philadelphia, the aircraft landed safely, but was destroyed by fire which had started in the descent.
On September 3, 2010, UPS Boeing 747, in Dubai, the aircraft crashed during an attempt to return to Dubai due to a severe inflight fire, killing both crewmen.
On July 27, 2011, Asiana Boeing 747, 130 kilometres west of Jeju Airport, South Korea, crashed after a severe inflight fire occurred, killing the two-man crew.
Latest News
- For the first time, tianjin Port realized the whole process of dock operati...
- From January to August, piracy incidents in Asia increased by 38%!The situa...
- Quasi-conference TSA closes as role redundant in mega merger world
- Singapore says TPP, born again as CPTPP, is now headed for adoption
- Antwerp posts 5th record year with boxes up 4.3pc to 10 million TEU
- Savannah lifts record 4 million TEU in '17 as it deepens port
