IFALPA PR on New Packaging Standards for Lithium Battery Shipments on Aircraft

15PRL16 4 May 2015

IFALPA Applauds ICAO Panel Action to Develop New Safety Standards for Lithium Battery Shipments on Aircraft FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MONTREAL, Canada – The International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations (IFALPA) praises the Dangerous Goods Panel of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for committing to develop new packaging standards for lithium battery shipments on aircraft in order to protect the aircraft and all on board from the effects of a lithium battery fire.

Recognizing that packaging is an important piece in a multilayered approach to the safe transport of lithium batteries, IFALPA will continue to work with all stakeholders to ensure the packaging standard is fully developed and implemented. We continue to support the recommendation that high-density shipments of lithium ion batteries not be carried until these standards are in place.

The panel will form a new working group to develop packaging standards with the goal of ensuring that any hazardous effects of a lithium battery fire are contained within the package. With this packaging standard in place, a fire in a lithium battery package would not propagate to other packages in a cargo compartment or endanger the aircraft.

First Officer Mark Rogers, chairman of IFALPA’s Dangerous Goods Committee, joined the ICAO panel this week along with representatives of the major aircraft manufacturers. The panel was presented with a recommendation that new packaging and shipping standards be created for shipments on both passenger and all-cargo aircraft, and IFALPA believes that high-density shipments of lithium ion batteries should not be carried aboard aircraft until such regulations are in place. We support strong action by the panel.

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Note to Editors: The International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations represents in excess of 100,000 pilots in more than 100 countries world-wide. IFALPA’s mission is to be the global voice of airline pilots, promoting the highest level of aviation safety and security world-wide and providing services, support and representation to all of its Member Associations. See the Federation website www.ifalpa.org

©2015 The International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations In the interests of flight safety, reproduction of this Press Release in whole or in part is encouraged. It may not be offered of sale or used commercially. All reprints must credit IFALPA.

For more information contact Anna Lou, IFALPA Communications & Marketing Coordinator, at tel +1 514 419 1191 or annalou@ifalpa.org