A proposal for a global ban on the shipment of lithium-ion batteries on passenger planes has currently been endorsed by the Federal Aviation Administration. The group has also blamed this practice as the one responsible for bringing down a couple of jetliners when the batteries flamed up. The International Civil Aviation Organisation has shown support for this global ban.
BBC reports that the ICAO has accounted intense fires caused by the batteries which have led to the destruction of aircraft. With their proposal, the global ban has been set to be enforced by April 1st. While it is not compulsory to adopt the decision of the ICAO, a number of countries have expressed their intention of adopting the recommendations of the agency.
The Rechargeable Battery Association trade group, which manufactured batteries, warned that prohibiting these may disrupt the flow of batteries found on cellphones, laptop computers, medical devices, power tools, and other electronic devices. But as cleared on Washington Post, the ban is only applicable to bulk shipments of batteries and not to the electronic device typically carried by passengers when they board an aircraft.
SLTRIB reported that the ICAO council president, Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu, has confirmed that the ban is set to remain in place at least until 2018, as they are expected to complete work on measures to safely pack and transport these batteries.
Based on tests conducted by aviation authorities, they have managed to establish that these batteries have a tendency to self-ignite and heat up to 600C. This temperature is considered as the melting point of aluminium, which is commonly used in aircrafts.
Another series of tests have established that once batteries overheat, they can give off fumes. The fumes can later build up and result to an explosion, knocking out onboard fire suppression systems which would render the fires uncontrollable.
These tests have led aircraft leaders, Boeing and Airbus, to declare that the continuous bulk shipment of lithium-ion batteries were "an unacceptable risk."
As of press time, majority of Li-Ion batteries are being transported through cargo ships. Unfortunately, a small number of about 30% still make use of delivery by air and even choose to use passenger aircrafts instead of dedicated cargo planes. These batteries are stored in a cargo container, which can typically hold thousands of lithium-ion batteries.
