WORLDWIDE Flight Services (WFS) and Diagnose have pioneered the detection of undeclared shipments of lithium batteries following a six-month trial involving many cargo consignments in France, reports the American Journal of Transportation.
wfs and Diagnose partnered in March 2022 to carry out a study using dogs to detect the presence of lithium batteries in cargo shipments.
Currently, there are few means to physically check for undeclared lithium batteries, posing a threat to flight safety due to their fire risk.
'Airlines, shippers, manufacturers, and governments all want to ensure the safe transport of lithium batteries by air. It's a joint responsibility. The industry is raising the bar to consistently apply existing standards and share critical information on rogue shippers,' said International Air Transport Association (IATA) director general Willie Walsh.
'But there are some areas where the leadership of governments is critical. Stronger enforcement of existing regulations and the criminalisation of abuses will send a strong message to rogue shippers. The accelerated development of standards for screening, information exchange, and fire containment will give the industry even more effective tools to work with.'
WFS and Diagnose hope the results of their extensive trial in France will provide a step forward in this area.
Said WFS global head of health, safety, security, and environment David Clark: 'Over the six months, the two dogs involved in the trial were very precise in their detection of lithium batteries, with 100 per cent accuracy. They located both lithium ion and lithium metal phone batteries in various cargo units whose volume sometimes exceeded two to three cubic metres.'
'More specifically, they were able to detect a single button battery (ion metal battery) within a one cubic metre shipment. In response to one of the biggest aviation safety challenges, WFS and Diagnose believe this can help to significantly strengthen safety measures.'
SeaNews Turkey
wfs and Diagnose partnered in March 2022 to carry out a study using dogs to detect the presence of lithium batteries in cargo shipments.
Currently, there are few means to physically check for undeclared lithium batteries, posing a threat to flight safety due to their fire risk.
'Airlines, shippers, manufacturers, and governments all want to ensure the safe transport of lithium batteries by air. It's a joint responsibility. The industry is raising the bar to consistently apply existing standards and share critical information on rogue shippers,' said International Air Transport Association (IATA) director general Willie Walsh.
'But there are some areas where the leadership of governments is critical. Stronger enforcement of existing regulations and the criminalisation of abuses will send a strong message to rogue shippers. The accelerated development of standards for screening, information exchange, and fire containment will give the industry even more effective tools to work with.'
WFS and Diagnose hope the results of their extensive trial in France will provide a step forward in this area.
Said WFS global head of health, safety, security, and environment David Clark: 'Over the six months, the two dogs involved in the trial were very precise in their detection of lithium batteries, with 100 per cent accuracy. They located both lithium ion and lithium metal phone batteries in various cargo units whose volume sometimes exceeded two to three cubic metres.'
'More specifically, they were able to detect a single button battery (ion metal battery) within a one cubic metre shipment. In response to one of the biggest aviation safety challenges, WFS and Diagnose believe this can help to significantly strengthen safety measures.'
SeaNews Turkey