'Most troubling' – FAA tests on electronic devices in cargo hold

© Sergey Khakimullin

It may come as little surprise to some in the cargo business who deal with regulations on lithium batteries, but it turns out that the recent “laptop ban” may not have been that clever a move. The FAA, which has been conducting tests on personal electronic devices (PEDs) placed in the cargo hold, said last week that the results were “most troubling”.

“It was concluded that if a PED is packed in a suitcase with permitted hazardous materials and a thermal runaway event occurs, there is the potential for the resulting event to exceed the capabilities of the airplane to cope with it.”

This is no doubt why the recent bans have now all been lifted by the US – although Europe’s EASA had expressed its concerns as early as April. Anyway, the FAA’s findings make interesting reading.