Thu, Feb 11, 2016
Says FAA Reauthorization Bill Fails To Address The Safety Concern
The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) is calling on the U.S. Congress to take action regarding the regulation of the shipment of lithium batteries aboard aircraft.
“H.R. 4441 fails to address the hazards posed by the transport of lithium batteries by air. As written, this bill would continue to allow the shipment of unlimited quantities of lithium batteries on passenger and cargo aircraft, which according to FAA testing, can cause fires current fire-suppression systems can’t extinguish," the union said in a statement.
“Transportation authorities around the world look to the Unites States as the leader in aviation safety. However, the 2012 FAA reauthorization contained language, Section 828, which precludes the agency from being able to regulate this issue. Today’s Safety Alert for Operators is a prime example of how the FAA must rely on the airlines to voluntarily comply with safe operating practices with respect to lithium battery shipments. It is imperative that Congress repeal Section 828 and give our country the ability to once again lead the world in advancing aviation safety.
“ALPA is calling for all shipments of lithium batteries to be fully regulated as outlined in dangerous goods standards and regulations, to require labeling, quantity limits, crew notification, and packaging standards so as to mitigate any risk a fire could pose to passengers, crewmembers, and the aircraft.
“It is important that the Unites States not delegate its responsibility as a sovereign nation to an international body. The Unites States should set the example and lead international efforts and immediately implement and enforce regulations that would ensure that lithium batteries can be shipped safely on both passenger and all-cargo aircraft.”
(Source: ALPA news release)
More News
Aviation Governance Secured...At Least For a While The National Business Aviation Association similarly applauded the passage of the FAA's recent reauthorization, contentedly recou>[...]
Emphasis On Growing The Future of Aviation Through Concentration on 'AFFORDABLE FLYERS' It's been a number of years since the Latest Edition of Jim Campbell's HUGE SportPlane Resou>[...]
Amazilia Aerospace GmbH, Develops Digital Flight Control, Flight Guidance And Vehicle Management Systems Textron eAviation has acquired substantially all the assets of Amazilia Aer>[...]
Honeywell's Primus Brings New Tools and Niceties for Hawker Operators Hawker 4000 business jet operators have a new installation on the table, now that the FAA has granted an STC f>[...]
Company Celebrates Niche-but-Important Advancement in Industry Standards Echodyne has announced full integration of its proprietary 'EchoFlight' radar into the e American Aerospace>[...]