EASA New Recommendations on Managing Risks of Lithium Batteries

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has released a new Safety Information Bulletin (SIB) that emphasises the potential risks to safe air travel associated with lithium batteries. This SIB was issued in response to a rising number of safety incidents involving lithium batteries transported by passengers on commercial aircraft. It consolidates and updates pertinent information from previous SIBs on lithium batteries, which have now been withdrawn.

An SIB may be directed towards the airline industry, specifically targeting airlines and other aircraft operators, to emphasise a specific new or developing safety issue. This SIB urges airlines to enhance and strengthen their current communication with passengers regarding restrictions on lithium battery transport and encourages appropriate actions to mitigate associated risks. Additionally, it serves as a reminder of the requirement to train airline and airport personnel on these risks and to effectively communicate dangerous goods restrictions to passengers.

“Smart phones and computers powered by lithium batteries are now an inherent part of our daily lives, and we know that each passenger now takes four to five such items with them on a flight,” said Jesper Rasmussen, Flight Standards Director at EASA. “Airlines and their ground staff need to make sure passengers know how to travel with these items responsibly. This includes prompting them to think carefully about not packing the devices in their check-in baggage but carrying them on board instead, so that they can be monitored and dealt with if something happens.”

Portable electronic devices (PEDs) utilising lithium batteries encompass a diverse array of common items, including mobile phones, laptops, tools such as drills, and drones. Certain PEDs, such as scooters, hoverboards, and specific drone models, contain high-capacity lithium batteries that are prohibited under current regulations. Power banks, categorised as spare batteries rather than PEDs, are subject to the applicable restrictions for spare batteries.

Lithium batteries pose a safety risk under certain conditions, such as malfunction, mechanical damage, short circuits, or exposure to high temperatures. In such instances, the substances within the battery may react uncontrollably, deviating from the intended gradual release of chemical energy as electrical current. This can lead to overheating, ignition, and/or the emission of toxic fumes.

E-cigarettes and power banks are considered particularly hazardous and are prohibited in checked luggage, similar to spare batteries. Charging e-cigarettes is strictly prohibited. Due to the potential risks they present, power banks should neither be charged nor used to charge other devices during the flight. Generally, batteries with a lower charge pose less risk, so it is advisable to carry these items onboard at a reduced state of charge and recharge them fully upon arrival.

The SIB intends to create passenger awareness on the risks posed by PEDs, e-cigarettes, power banks, and other lithium batteries by highlighting the importance of communicating this information to the passengers. It further draws special attention to training ground staff and cabin crews on all aspects of lithium battery risks, including dealing with an overheating battery in-flight, to ensure containment of any fire and mitigate the safety threats.

The SIB emphasises the following crucial points for communicating with passengers:

• E-cigarettes and power banks should be carried where they can be monitored (on the person). If not possible, they must be in carry-on baggage and protected in the same way as described below for spare batteries.

• PEDs should only be charged through the onboard power supply systems and should be monitored at all times by the passenger. Power banks should not be used to charge PEDs during the flight.

• When not in use during the flight, PEDs should be protected against damage and unintentional activation. The limitation in watt-hours (Wh) for each PED is 100 Wh and, only with the operator’s approval, 160 Wh. The communication should include examples of commonly used devices.

• Spare batteries, including power banks and e-cigarettes, when packed in carry-on baggage, should be protected from short circuit (e.g. by carrying them in their original packaging, taping their terminals, and putting them inside a plastic bag or box). They should also be protected from unintentional activation as well as stowed as far as possible within the bag from any other battery and/or potentially flammable item (e.g. perfume). Whereas charging e-cigarettes is forbidden, using or charging power banks is not forbidden but strongly discouraged.

Aircraft operators and ground handling service providers should also make passengers aware of the risks caused by PEDs being short-circuited, damaged or caught in the movable part(s) of a seat.