Once
upon a time, Pan American World Airways’ pilots and crew marched
in formation towards waiting aircraft and the action was observed as
an integral part of the journey.
Today, although much has changed, pilots
and crew still get and deserve respect for what they do as they think
about the safety of everyone who flies.
Needless
to say the transport of Lithium batteries on the table get some special
attention from the people up on the bridge in the cockpit piloting the
airplanes and up and down the tube looking after the passengers.
| 
IFALPA Technical Team accompanied by President
Capt. Martin Chalk (center). From left: Capt. Arnaud du Bédat,
Senior Technical Officer; Capt. Robert Torn, Air Traffic Services
Committee Chairman; Capt. Mike Jackson, Technical Director &
Rep. to ICAO; F/O Mark Rogers, Dangerous Goods Committee Chairman;
Christoph Schewe, Managing Director SFO; Agustín Guzmán
Rodriguez, Security Committee Chairman; Capt. Martin Chalk, President;
Capt. Stefan Wolf, Technical & Safety Standards, Executive
Vice President; Ms. Carole Couchman, Senior Technical Officer;
Capt. David Begin (front), Technical Officer; Capt. Heriberto
Salazar Eguiluz. Aerodrome & Ground Environment Committee
Chairman SFO; Nikolaus Braun (back), Aircraft Design & Operation
Committee Chairman; and Capt. Burkhart Pete Kaumanns, Accident
Analysis & Prevention Committee Chairman. |
Mark Rogers
is chairman of the Dangerous Goods Committee at IFALPA. He was involved
in drafting the pilots’ position at the ICAO Lithium panel held
in Montreal last month.
Here Mr. Rogers discusses what pilots
have to say about Lithium batteries as cargo.
“IFALPA is concerned about the carriage
of any lithium batteries in cargo that have the potential to overwhelm
the aircraft’s fire suppression system and prevent continued safe
flight following a fire involving the batteries.
“The highest risk, and the area
where IFALPA has focused the most effort, are shipments of densely packed
batteries as cargo.
“Batteries carried in baggage by
passengers and crew also present a risk, but because these batteries
are generally not concentrated in close proximity to each other, the
likelihood that an event could be safely mitigated is much higher.
“Nevertheless, IFALPA supports passenger
education efforts and the effective training and use of procedures for
flight attendants and pilots.
“IFALPA also supports efforts to
restrict lithium batteries to carry-on baggage so that any incident
can be quickly detected, ensuring a safe outcome.
“We recognize that lithium batteries
not prepared in accordance with the regulations often present a higher
risk in transportation.
“Properly prepared shipments may
nevertheless serve as fuel for an independent fire, or initiate a fire
following a manufacturing defect or damage to the package.
“IFALPA supports enforcement efforts
against shippers who do not follow the regulations, but feels the most
effective way to reduce non-compliance is to fully regulate all battery
shipments and require training for shippers.”
What About
Training?
“Pilot training varies widely from
operator to operator.
“While some training courses are
very thorough and well developed, other courses could use improvement.”
Installed
Lithium Shipped Air Mail?
“Because of significant problems
with oversight, training, enforcement, and inspection, we opposed and
continue to oppose the decision to allow lithium batteries to be carried
in equipment in the post.”
Undeclared
Lithium Batteries
“IFALPA supports additional outreach
efforts to both shippers and passengers, as well as robust enforcement
of the current regulations.
“As stated previously, however,
we feel the most effective way to reduce non-compliance is to fully
regulate all battery shipments and require training for shippers.”
All Cargo
Versus Passenger Pilots
“IFALPA believes that one level
of safety should exist for pilots flying both passenger and all-cargo
aircraft.
“We strongly support all efforts
to end the disparity between the two operations.”
Jens
