TSA Limits Lithium Batteries on Airplanes 595
yali writes "The U.S. Transportation and Security Administration has issued new rules limiting travel with lithium batteries. As of January 1, no spare lithium batteries are allowed in checked luggage. Batteries carried in the cabin are subject to limitations on per-battery and total lithium content, and spare batteries must have the terminals covered. If you're returning home from the holidays with new toys, be sure to check out the new restrictions before you pack."
Re:awww jeez, not this $#!^ again (Score:3, Interesting)
A lithium battery in checked luggage that shorts out could be a major disaster. Take a look at what happened when some oxygen generators where not shipped properly.
If a fire happens in the passenger cabin it will be noticed and hopefully put out quickly. One in the luggage hold could be a bigger problem.
When I think about just how battery/energy crazy we are getting I have to wonder if it really is a good idea.
I have a six gigabyte memory card in my cellphone. When my wife and I travel we have two notebooks, two Nintendo DS's, two cell phones, an iPod video, and at least one digital camera!
I wonder just how many batteries are being made a year these days?
Frankly these rules are a lot more logical than the restrictions on screwdrivers, nail files, nail clippers, and pocketknives.
BTW great pictures on your blog.
Re:awww jeez, not this $#!^ again (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:awww jeez, not this $#!^ again (Score:3, Interesting)
And you can't do the same thing with sodium and water or a hundred other items that can be brought on board?
I said it in a previous posting, but soon, the only way to get onto a plane will be like this [mwctoys.com].
Bass Ackwards (Score:3, Interesting)
But when it comes to a rule that averts something that actually has a reasonable chance of endangering a flight, they wait months after the hazard was known to the whole world before taking any action.
Worry or Don't Worry? (Score:3, Interesting)
1) The TSA agents won't know what a Lithium battery is and people that have extra batteries won't be affected - should they forget about or ignore the rule.
2) The TSA agent won't know what a Lithium battery is and people that don't have Lithium batteries will have them confiscated/removed because they are idiots.
Which one is more likely and should we worry in either case?
Re:awww jeez, not this $#!^ again (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Lithium Ion too - just not as restrictive (Score:3, Interesting)
Are you one that didn't read TFA? Because there is a big gap between "The National Transportation Safety Board earlier this month said it could not rule out lithium batteries as the source of a cargo plane fire at Philadelphia International Airport last year" and "there was a cargo hold fire on one plane caused by lithium batteries".
Re:awww jeez, not this $#!^ again (Score:3, Interesting)
1) Set up a kiosk at large airports immediately next to the security checkpoint.
2) Sell postage paid USPS flat rate boxes for $20.00
3) profit!
Re:awww jeez, not this $#!^ again (Score:3, Interesting)
after the hassle of getting to the airport and getting through the security line, and getting the additional security checks, which involve large ugly men cupping my balls, then having a screw driver and my batteries confiscated, and then having to walk a mile through the air port terminal to my gate, and then crammed onto an air planes tiny little seats with a screaming baby and smug barbie doll flight attendents and then you want to give me a gun?
Yes. Solves the security check problem. Potential weapons other than explosive devices wouldn't be checked for anymore, that means security would be only about looking for bombs, not maces/knives/scissors/box cutters and so on. Two birds, one stone.
This is all assuming you can trust the TSA (Score:3, Interesting)
On the way back home, though, there was another note from the TSA, and the inflater was just gone. They didn't remove the batteries and put it back, or anything, it was just stolen.
I looked into submitting a claim for the lost item, and discovered that the form I would have to submit was the same form you used to make a wrongful death claim. Nice. I decided it wasn't worth my effort to try and get reimbursed for a $25 or so item.
Readers Digest did a little unscientific poll recently to figure out who were the most and least honest people in the world. They did this by dropping cell phones in odd places, then calling them so people would find the phone, and seeing how many people would return it. I found it quite interesting that the least honest group was security guards. Of course, this is practically the same demographic as TSA agents, so I guess it's no surprise that some of them are looting peoples' luggage.
Re:awww jeez, not this $#!^ again (Score:3, Interesting)
Aircraft already tend to have lots of tiny holes in both the skin and the rear preassure bulkhead. Made by these things called rivets. Building an aircraft which was totally airtight would only increase the price.
Re:Actually that Is in the request... (Score:3, Interesting)
Now she's a nervous flyer and it was her first time overseas. I've been wanting to get her to do a longer trip - the grand canyon followed by the Canadian mountains would be great. However if we go to the US, we have to worry about being finger printed, having our equipment tossed away, she has allergies that can stop her breathing so carries epi pens (adrenaline needles) which literally stand between her and death if she has a reaction. Oh and she's just changed her last name to Yousef. Never mind that she's blonde and blue eyed and that although I look Arabic I think all religion and politics is poison. We're about as low risk in terms of terrorism as a couple could be.
What it boils down to is this. American's have been running around since headless chooks since 9/11. I simply don't trust those in charge to get it right and see us as no threat. I think a holiday to the US for us is high risk and would be about as much fun as major dental work. I can't justify it. It's a real pity.