By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, March 15: It is up to the airlines to decide if power bank usage during flights should be banned, says the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM).
According to The Star, CAAM chief executive officer Datuk Captain Norazman Mahmud said that the ban on power bank use in planes was up to the operators.
He said CAAM had published proper guidance on safety measures, including a recommendation for airlines to ensure compliance with lithium-ion battery transport regulations.
“The airlines can decide to ban it on their carriers,” he said.
In the March 4 notice, Norazman said current procedures require power banks and spare lithium batteries to be carried in carry-on baggage only.
“Airline operators should advise passengers to avoid storing power banks in overhead compartments and instead carry them on their person.
“Customer service personnel and cabin crew play a pivotal role in risk mitigation,” it said.
He said cabin crew must remain vigilant in identifying potential hazards and be trained to manage such incidents.
This followed a rise in on-board incidents due to power banks. On January 28, an aircraft belonging to Air Busan was severely damaged at the Gimhae International Airport in South Korea after a faulty external battery pack caught fire.
Due to the matter, airlines operating from Malaysia have joined those in other countries in restricting power bank usage on planes, with Batik Air among those introducing the new policy effective immediately.
The airline said passengers are only allowed to carry a maximum of two power banks which must be always kept on-person. They also cannot be placed in carry-on baggage and are strictly prohibited in check-in baggage for all flights.
Among the airlines that have imposed restrictions on power bank use are Singapore Airlines, Scoot, Taiwan carrier EVA Air, and Thai Airways.
“For enhanced safety, the use of power banks inside the cabin is strictly prohibited.
“Passengers are also advised to exercise caution when carrying auto-magnet charge power banks as these pose additional risks.
“Check-in staff will inspect power banks before boarding to confirm they are in good condition and meet the required watt-hour limitations,” Batik Air said.
Power banks carried onboard must not exceed 100Wh or 20,000 milliampere-hours (mAh).
Additionally, AirAsia announced that all inbound and outbound flights for South Korea prohibit power banks, spare batteries, and electronic cigarettes from being stored in the overhead compartment and that they must be carried on-person.
The airline said that the items must be individually packed either by being sealed in plastic, in insulated pouches or in the original packaging to prevent short circuits.
“Guests departing South Korea will receive clearance stickers affixed to these items or their pouches by check-in staff.
“Cabin baggage without power banks, spare batteries or electronic cigarettes may be placed in the overhead compartment.
“Power banks, spare batteries and electronic cigarettes are strictly not allowed in checked luggage,” said the notice. — DayakDaily
