Lithium Batteries

Learn how to handle lithium batteries in the cabin to reduce the risk of fire - this article is based on a Safety Promotion Notice from Airbus Helicopters

Lithium batteries are widely used in a range of consumer Portable Electronic Devices (PEDs) including smartphones, tablets, laptops and cameras.  Electronic cigarettes have been identified as a particular risk as are power banks and spare batteries.    

There have been a number of events across the global aviation community that have been caused by lithium batteries going into thermal runaway.  The resulting effects of thermal runaway include overpressure, corrosive leakage, toxic vapors, overheating and in the most serious cases a fire. 

Beware of lithium battery thermal runaway

Thermal runaway can happen during charging or because of crushing, high temperatures or manufacturing defects that lead to an unexpected failure.  A helicopter is more vulnerable to this type of situation that a normal aeroplane - fire protections in cargo areas are reduced and it might not be so easy to get access to the source of the fire.  

EASA Together4Safety and Airbus Helicopters developed this guidance to help reduce the risk of lithium battery fires.  It is aimed to give you the latest information on practical measures you can take.  

6 simple ways you can reduce the risk of lithium battery fires 

• Only carry Lithium Batteries in the cabin where people within the helicopter can access the devices or potential fire source.
• Avoid crushing (fall, crush, impact, compressing, hitting…) of devices, be especially careful when moving seats and other equipment that may trap or damage any devices.
• Minimize exposure to sunlight and high temperatures for long periodsAvoid overheating PEDs or other lithium battery powered devices by . 
• Do not charge Electronic Cigarettes from portable chargers at any time in flight.  
• Take particular care to not use PEDs that have been damaged (overheated, fall, shocked, broken, cracked…) – also avoid recharging such damaged items during flight.
• Where possible use devices from known, legitimate manufacturers with CE markings or equivalent approvals, this includes the use of original branded cables and chargers.

Make sure you have procedures in your SMS for thermal runaway situations

It is important that you have operational procedures in place in your Safety Management Systems (SMS) for the handling of Lithium Battery thermal runaway situations depending on their specific operations.  Such measures should consider: 

• ​​​​​​How to access devices and other sources of potential fire.
• Options for extinguishing any fire using the available extinguishers. This should include procedures in which it is clear who should use what extinguishers and in what situations.  Any extinguishers must be appropriate for the both the type of fire and the place it will be used (e.g. confined space within a helicopter cabin).  If responsibilities are given to passengers, they must be briefing on their responsibilities.    
• Additionally, consider procedures to remove the situation from the inside of the helicopter.