Fying and Li-Ion batteries at DVinfo.net

Brian Drysdale · December 9th, 2013, 10:23 AM

PAG's Steve Emmett has written an article on their experiences regarding the problems people are now having when taking Li-Ion batteries onto flights.
Could you be powerless on arrival? by Steve Emmett tv-bay articles

Edit: sorry for typo in title.

Ronald Jackson · December 9th, 2013, 10:31 AM

Is this peculiar to entry into the USA?

Ronald Jackson · December 9th, 2013, 10:32 AM

And of course exit therefrom.

Brian Drysdale · December 9th, 2013, 10:41 AM

They mention the case of "a cameraman, travelling from Denmark to Germany, whose batteries were removed from his luggage and destroyed by the airline"

Paul Wood · December 10th, 2013, 02:43 PM

This appears to be a bit anecdotal - I flew last month from Brazil to Europe (Spain) with 6 Sony L 970 batteries in my checked baggage without problems - although the cases were ¨security wrapped¨at departure to prevent theft. Also a similar number in hand baggage.

I guess this is another example of uneven application of poorly communicated rules on airport security.

Christopher Young · December 13th, 2013, 08:45 PM

Attached is the latest IATA regs re transporting of batteries. Virtually every airline is a member of IATA and uses this document. Things are getting pretty tight on Li-on batteries and airlines.

If you read this recently released report you will understand why. A li-on fire is virtually impossible to put out.

UPS 747 Crash Highlights Lithium Battery Danger | Flying Magazine

Govt regs listed here.

Safe Travel

possible liability issues here

Understanding Your Liability: Shipping Lithium Battery Powered Devices

American Airlines recently fined the BBC... AND the cameraman £ 75,000 Stirling EACH for breaking the current regs. I guess we should all be warned!

Chris Young
CYV Productions
Sydney

Brian Drysdale · February 4th, 2014, 03:47 AM

A BBC news item on the subject: BBC News - Warning over exploding batteries on planes

Brian Drysdale · November 13th, 2016, 09:37 AM

Further info on traveling with Lithium batteries

How to travel safe with lithium batteries by Jose Antunes - ProVideo Coalition

John Nantz · November 13th, 2016, 12:42 PM

Brian - thanks for the link. That is good timing because I plan to be flying shortly.
Noticed that the British Airlines link in the article had a nice *.pdf page but it was dated February 2016 so I did some checking to see if there was anything newer.

British Air baggage essentials, banned and restricted: Banned and restricted items | Baggage essentials | British Airways

https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org..._batteries.pdf dated September 9, 2016.
Under Q1: This seems odd. External chargers are also considered to be a battery. Huh? They’re pretty much a couple copper coils with a few small components, aren’t they?

Also https://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/hazmat_safety/

Jay Massengill · November 13th, 2016, 05:00 PM

Maybe they are referring to external USB charger devices that have a built-in lithium rechargeable battery?

If so, they needed to make that more clearly detailed versus a device that is only an AC-powered charger.

Dan Brockett · April 29th, 2017, 07:14 AM

I flew American Airlines from LAX to Sao Paulo a few weeks ago and I had to not only pull all of the Lithium batteries from my checked luggage, I had to sign a paper at the check in gate letting me know that I would be arrested, deported, my head shaved and my family put in a FEMA camp if I tried to check in luggage with Li-Ions in it. JK, but they made a big deal about it, signs everywhere, pop up sign offs on the computer check in screen, etc. Unfortunately I had a lot of batteries with me for this shoot so my carry on bag weight went up significantly.

As usual, when flying, the airlines and TSA tend to overreact and logic and reason go out the window with a Draconian blanket policy. If all Lithium Ion batteries were required to have a snap on cover or Gaffer tape across the battery leads, there could be no fires from them, unless they were manufactured defectively.

Bill Ward · August 25th, 2017, 07:23 AM

Dan: there has been a "no L-Ion batteries in checked luggage" hard policy for several years now.

The good news is you can carry on as many sub 100 bricks as your bag and back can survive.

December 9th, 2013, 10:23 AM	#1
Brian Drysdale Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Belfast, UK Posts: 6,154	Fying and Li-Ion batteries PAG's Steve Emmett has written an article on their experiences regarding the problems people are now having when taking Li-Ion batteries onto flights. Could you be powerless on arrival? by Steve Emmett tv-bay articles Edit: sorry for typo in title.

December 9th, 2013, 10:31 AM	#2
Ronald Jackson Major Player Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Southport, United Kingdom Posts: 723	Re: Fying and Li-Ion batteries Is this peculiar to entry into the USA?

December 9th, 2013, 10:32 AM	#3
Ronald Jackson Major Player Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Southport, United Kingdom Posts: 723	Re: Fying and Li-Ion batteries And of course exit therefrom.

December 9th, 2013, 10:41 AM	#4
Brian Drysdale Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Belfast, UK Posts: 6,154	Re: Fying and Li-Ion batteries They mention the case of "a cameraman, travelling from Denmark to Germany, whose batteries were removed from his luggage and destroyed by the airline"

December 10th, 2013, 02:43 PM	#5
Paul Wood Major Player Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Madrid, Spain Posts: 485	Re: Flying and Li-Ion batteries This appears to be a bit anecdotal - I flew last month from Brazil to Europe (Spain) with 6 Sony L 970 batteries in my checked baggage without problems - although the cases were ¨security wrapped¨at departure to prevent theft. Also a similar number in hand baggage. I guess this is another example of uneven application of poorly communicated rules on airport security.

February 4th, 2014, 03:47 AM	#7
Brian Drysdale Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Belfast, UK Posts: 6,154	Re: Fying and Li-Ion batteries A BBC news item on the subject: BBC News - Warning over exploding batteries on planes

November 13th, 2016, 09:37 AM	#8
Brian Drysdale Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Belfast, UK Posts: 6,154	Re: Fying and Li-Ion batteries Further info on traveling with Lithium batteries How to travel safe with lithium batteries by Jose Antunes - ProVideo Coalition

November 13th, 2016, 12:42 PM	#9
John Nantz Trustee Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Seattle WA Posts: 1,256	Re: Fying and Li-Ion batteries Brian - thanks for the link. That is good timing because I plan to be flying shortly. Noticed that the British Airlines link in the article had a nice *.pdf page but it was dated February 2016 so I did some checking to see if there was anything newer. British Air baggage essentials, banned and restricted: Banned and restricted items \| Baggage essentials \| British Airways https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org..._batteries.pdf dated September 9, 2016. Under Q1: This seems odd. External chargers are also considered to be a battery. Huh? They’re pretty much a couple copper coils with a few small components, aren’t they? Also https://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/hazmat_safety/

November 13th, 2016, 05:00 PM	#10
Jay Massengill Trustee Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Burlington Posts: 1,976	Re: Fying and Li-Ion batteries Maybe they are referring to external USB charger devices that have a built-in lithium rechargeable battery? If so, they needed to make that more clearly detailed versus a device that is only an AC-powered charger.

April 29th, 2017, 07:14 AM	#11
Dan Brockett Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Los Angeles, California Posts: 2,109	Re: Fying and Li-Ion batteries I flew American Airlines from LAX to Sao Paulo a few weeks ago and I had to not only pull all of the Lithium batteries from my checked luggage, I had to sign a paper at the check in gate letting me know that I would be arrested, deported, my head shaved and my family put in a FEMA camp if I tried to check in luggage with Li-Ions in it. JK, but they made a big deal about it, signs everywhere, pop up sign offs on the computer check in screen, etc. Unfortunately I had a lot of batteries with me for this shoot so my carry on bag weight went up significantly. As usual, when flying, the airlines and TSA tend to overreact and logic and reason go out the window with a Draconian blanket policy. If all Lithium Ion batteries were required to have a snap on cover or Gaffer tape across the battery leads, there could be no fires from them, unless they were manufactured defectively.

August 25th, 2017, 07:23 AM	#12
Bill Ward Major Player Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 580	Re: Fying and Li-Ion batteries Dan: there has been a "no L-Ion batteries in checked luggage" hard policy for several years now. The good news is you can carry on as many sub 100 bricks as your bag and back can survive.