Next time you go to pack your power bank or extra pair of batteries, think twice about which luggage you put it in.
Airline officials regularly warn us about the danger of lithium batteries in checked luggage. Because of their composition, lithium batteries are at risk of short-circuiting and catching fire during a flight. If this happens in the air, it would be safer for it to occur in the cabin, where the trained aircrew can handle the situation swiftly and safely.
Because airline travel will peak in the coming weeks, with the Easter and ANZAC Day holidays, airline officials are cracking down on their safety protocols to ensure everyone onboard is as safe as possible.
Launching the new Pack Right. Safe Flight campaign, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is attempting to advise the general public on the things they should and should not pack for a flight, and further, if they should pack each item in their checked or carry-on luggage.
Pip Spence, the CEO and Director of Aviation Safety of CASA, urges passengers to plan ahead of their travels and follow the safety guidelines outlined by officials when they are packing their belongings.
Ms. Spence claims, ‘The average passenger now travels with at least four lithium battery devices.’ This is a huge safety concern for upcoming flights that will be filled with passengers eager for their holidays to begin.
Spence said the CASA is looking for opportunities to educate the public about the importance of packing safely for all those onboard.
Likewise, the Airlines for Australia and New Zealand (A4ANZ) CEO, Emma Wilson, said that airlines will welcome the new information and tools to best promote air travelling safety and concern.
Ms. Wilson suggests that most airline passengers are unaware of the dangers of packing common household items incorrectly. Power banks, spare batteries, vapes, and aerosols are all risky items when carried aboard improperly.
If passengers visit casa.gov.au/packright while they are packing their luggage, they will be able to educate themselves on how to pack safely and correctly. It is also important to listen to the airline crew once onboard, and be respectful throughout the entirety of the flight, even when travelling in peak periods that may prove to be stressful.
CASA will be completing routine safety checks on airlines throughout the holiday period in order to best ensure that safety standards and presidents are met.
If you choose to break the safety rules outlined by CASA, you could be fined more than $15,000 or imprisoned, so be diligent about how you are packing in order to avoid punishment and ensure the safety of others.
Enjoyed this feature on packing right? You might like our feature on honouring the future of space travel here.