
DG Safety Group are pleased to advise the awarding of contract “OV-1823-ETE-RISKM” with VITO. The contract, part of a research study with the European Commission, is in relation to the “safe transport of lithium batteries by aircraft”, will be to develop a risk assessment for the air transport of lithium battery consignments for European air operators.
The amount of lithium metal and ion batteries transported by air has been in constant growth in view of their ubiquitous application in an ever wider range of electric and electronic products. However, lithium batteries may have been the cause, or contributed to, uncontrolled fires that lead to the loss of three cargo aircraft between 2006 and 2011.
The specific objective of the Sabatair project is to propose and evaluate specific packaging solutions and other operational measures aimed at the safe transportation of both lithium metal and lithium ion batteries on board an aircraft – passenger and cargo alike. The effectiveness of these solutions and measures shall be validated through a series of studies and/or experimental tests, representative of the environmental and operating conditions encountered in air transport. A risk assessment method will be developed to support air transport operators in using such solutions and measures in their daily operations.
The Sabatair project runs during 2018 and 2019.

https://sabatair.vito.be/