They seem harmless and very practical for travelers. But more and more airlines consider them a danger – they have already caused accidents and is the fault of the lithium.
A PowerBank with a lithium battery was considered the possible source of a fire on an Air Busan plane in January. This is because the researchers discovered “several brands of electrical melting in the remains of a battery charger,” explains.
But it was not an isolated case: according to the Federal Aviation Administration of the US, the Lithium batteries have been protagonists of more than 500 incidents during flights In recent decades, causing from smoke, fire or extreme heat within the airplanes.
According to some airlines, therefore, these lithium-ion batteries are a danger, and their incorrect use or much use can cause problems and make them flammable, causing a reaction called “Thermal escape”.
“Lithium batteries can act as a source of ignition or as a fuel source for a fire started in another location. Potential risk as a source of ignition increases when lithium batteries are damaged, swollen, include manufacturing defects, are overwhelmed or overheat, ”explains aerospace designer Sonya Brown.
In South Korea, for example, the government prohibited flight passengers across the country from storing these devices, as well as electronic cigarettesin the upper cabins of the aircraft. They may enter the aircraft, but they have to be stored under the seat.
Powerbanks cannot be loaded either through the USB input of the aircraft. “Power Bank’s outlets must be covered with tape or placed in a protective bag or a plastic bag (for example, a sliding bag) so as not to play in other metals. ”
Company Air Asia also prohibited the use of these devices during flights, and Eva Air, China Airlines and Uni Air, followed the example.
For long -haul trips, it can be complicated to pass without them, especially if you have to work or use a computer or mobile phone to watch movies or series. But more and more airlines have made it their ban in a current rpratic.
Can I take powerbanks for a flight?
Yes, in hand luggage, in most airlines. Most of them It allows no more than two per passenger, not more than 43,000 milliamperes per hour (MAH).
The Low-Cost Ryanair company, for example, which according to the second company that the Portuguese use most (after TAP), writes in their own that “if the mobility assistant to lithium ion battery contains a firmly fixed battery to the device”, then it is possible to “carry in the cab, a reserve battery that does not exceed 300 WH, or two reserve batteries that do not exceed 160 WH”.
According to CNN, a 100 WH (27,000 mAh battery for a typical 3.7 volts battery) is sufficient to Loading an iPhone 13 Pro Max about three to four times.
In TAP, beware of electronic cigarettes
The airline most used by the Portuguese in 2023 was TAP – it was the one that operated the most flights and transported more passengers.
According to the Portuguese Company, It is not allowed to transport in the bag of electronic cigarettes. You can only take them in the hand luggage, but they cannot be loaded during the flight.
Regarding “portable electronic devices for personal use fed by Metallic lithium or lithium -ion batteries, ”the company is permissiveprovided that it does not exceed the 15 units. Only condition: “Metallic lithium content cannot exceed 2 GE, in the case of lithium -ion batteries, capacity cannot exceed 100 WH”. Powerbanks cannot be more than two per passenger.
CAROLINA BASTOS PEREIRA, ZAP //
