Lithium Batteries Restrictions on Passenger Airliners Difficult to Enforce

If you confused regarding air travel with lithium batteries and lithium-powered devices, you are not alone. There are many articles on the internet reporting different information. Battery forums are full of discussion trying to draw conclusions about what it all means.

There are publications available such as DOT Safe Travel to give us guidelines, but according to information received by Battery Boulevard, it is difficult for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to enforce the new provisions because not only are the restrictions unclear, but there are no regulations in place just yet.

Transportation Security Administration Supervisor Dwayne Pico of Palm Springs International Airport told us today there are no restrictions being enforced regarding Lithium batteries at this time because there is too much confusion about them. TSA has a comprehensive list of restrictions for flight at “What to Know Before You Go”, but Lithium batteries are not found prohibited there yet.

Phil Miller, Officer for the Department of Aeronautics in Northern California confirmed to us that there are no policies or regulations regarding Lithium batteries and airline travel in place at this time.

Once the restrictions are available in clear, common language, it will be easier to draw the line between what and how much Lithium can one fly with.

There is a real and present danger to consider when traveling with Lithium batteries, and it is based on past experiences of dangerous hazards. When a Lithium battery is subjected to strong impact or shocks, it can get hot, ignite, or even explode. Serious accidents, injury and fires have been recorded. Nobody wants to be eight miles up in the air inside an airliner that catches on fire.

Everyone can agree it is good to err on the side of caution when it comes to safety. There are already restrictive provisions regarding sending Lithium batteries through the mail service. One major battery distributor has told us The United States Postal Service no longer ships Lithium batteries. Private carriers such as Federal Express or UPS will ship Lithium batteries, but under strict requirements. The packages must be clearly labeled that they ‘contain Lithium batteries and that they are not to be shipped on passenger airlines’.

Some reports online are leaving many of us confused about exactly what is allowed in flying with Lithium and Lithium-ion batteries. It is reported that under the new rules, one can bring batteries with up to the equivalent of 8-grams of lithium content per person. How are most people going to understand how to determine what 8 grams of Lithium consists of? Most folks are not going to try to figure out how to answer that question. We will be updating you with the answers as they become available.

In the meantime, perhaps you can ship the Lithium batteries ahead of your travel, or buy them at your destination. Be safe!

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