FAA issues fire warning for lithium batteries

[HIDblue]

I saw this article on the local news channel about an FAA warning about lithium batteries in the cargo area of airplanes:

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?se...rld&id=7714077

[Mr Happy]

More details here:

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/finan.../D9INOC6G0.htm

Lithium batteries on planes is a theme that keeps reappearing.

[hcb]

When I talked to the TSA a few years ago (after another carry-on restriction had been implemented) I was told that LiIon laptop batteries were OK in the carry-on, but not in checked luggage.
More information from the horse's mouth here:
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtrav...batteries.shtm

(First post, I hope I pass the smell test )

[LuxLuthor]

I don't understand how these cargo holds are getting hot enough to ignite the Lithium cells. Don't they transport pets in those holds? It seems all sorts of plastic/rubber things would be melting if there is that amount of heat to trigger thermal runaway events.

Plus their thinking that lithium batteries should be stored in the lower cargo holds where the Halon extinguishers can be used...well those will only work on Li-Ion secondary; but not on Lithium (metal) primary cell fires.

[AnAppleSnail]

They don't mention amy incidents where the batteries burned. I think there's a quota maintained by news agencies to keep us edgy about personal safety while flying. If my laptop in cargo turns on in my suitcase, maybe ignition temperatures could be reached. But MY laptop powers down when the CPU sensor reaches 100 C. It's the hottest part of the device, and iit would need to turn itself on after boarding to even attempt midair excitement.

[ElectronGuru]

I don't understand how these cargo holds are getting hot enough to ignite the Lithium cells.

My read was that they think a single battery or battery pack flamed on its own, then spread to neighboring cells/packs. So two things were needed for the accident, an initiator (initial fire) and nearby fuel (otherwise stable, but 'at risk' cells).

The basic issue is that if industry doesn't step up and find a way to stop these incidents, enough of them will accumulate and governments will step in.

[HIDblue]

Not too many details about the incident, but they make a vague reference to that UPS flight that crashed in Dubai carrying a large quantity of lithium batteries. They don't go so far as to blame the lithium batteries, so who knows?

[Black Rose]

That UPS plane that crashed in Dubai keeps coming up.

Shortly after the crash, it was reported that the plane had a smart system about that was able to pinpoint exactly where the fire was.

At that point in the investigation they wanted to review the cargo manifest and see what exactly was placed in that location or near it.

Although they say the plane was carrying a large quantity of lithium cells, they haven't come right out and said it was a battery fire that brought the plane down, but that seems the most likely cause.

[KiwiMark]

Was the UPS plane carrying a large number of Lithium primaries? That is what I think the article was saying. Unfortunately they don't seem to know what started the fire, but I can easily believe that if something else started a fire and that fire reached Lithium primary batteries then there could be quite a big problem with smoke and heat and more fire. I can't see Lithium metal or Li-ion cells being the actual cause of a fire though unless they are packed in a way that they can short circuit.

[hopkins]

If you have the misconception that cargo is gently loaded into the belly
of jets think again. Its hurry up and bump, bang, thump, Clang!!! We've got another 100 jets to load before noon! Hurry.'
Easy to imagine a box of batteries inside a cargo container getting squished
by other boxes sharing the same container.

Like this. Or just google "how not to unload" and see an endless number of accidents with pallets/cargo/forklifts/trucks/warehouses/ you name it.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0gxizJXvkM


http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/vid...6o98l99?fg=rss

[VidPro]

ahh gee, and just when i thought it was carefully hand delivered from my door to thier door completly across the country by special courier :-)

Pack well, it has to go through hell to get there. really http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sour...+Michigan&z=15

[funkymonkey1111]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap_travel/20...hium_batteries