The potential bomb that’s still completely legal

Maybe you saw this little news article over the weekend that stated, “Boeing warned its passenger airline customers Friday that flying bulk shipments of lithium ion batteries can cause fires capable of destroying the planes.”

It turns out there have been several fires on cargo planes carrying closely-packed shipments of lithium-ion batteries. To the point that last year, the FAA felt compelled to demonstrate what could happen if just a single battery overheated in a cargo container.

“The batteries began to smolder, temperatures inside reached 1100 degrees and flammable gases ignited this violent explosion,” CBS’ Bob Orr recently reported.

That was enough to get several airlines, including United and Delta, to forbid the batteries. But in the seven months since that report aired, the FAA itself has done nothing to impose a ban across the industry. Because it’s not allowed to. Under a law passed by Congress in 2012, after considerable lobbying from the battery industry, battery regulations are limited to an agency of the United Nations. And we know how fast they move.

That’s why Boeing had to issue its warning. Because these battery shipments are still legal.

But I have an idea – maybe Congress could at least require a sign at the gate which says, “This flight will be carrying thousands of potentially explosive lithium-ion batteries. Enjoy your trip.”

So at least passengers can make an informed choice.

The other benefit could be that it would speed up the part of the boarding process where they ask for volunteers to give up their seats.