All this talk of the Boeing 787’s problems with lithium ion batteries has caused some talk among electric GSE owners and those considering buying electric GSE – regardless of the type of battery.
All this talk of the Boeing 787’s problems with lithium ion batteries has caused some talk among electric GSE owners and those considering buying electric GSE – regardless of the type of battery. Of course, anyone using any battery to power their equipment needs to be concerned about how those batteries work and whether there is any possibility of a fire starting.
Naturally, a fire on the ground doesn’t begin to compare with a fire on an aircraft at altitude, but is nonetheless a cause for concern. The Boeing 787 battery that caused a fire on the ground at Boston’s Logan International Airport did considerable damage to the aircraft and could have caused injuries and worse but for the quick thinking cleaners who immediately rang the alarm when they smelled smoke.
When it comes to batteries, an ounce of prevention is truly worth a pound of cure. This means that batteries should be regularly inspected in accordance with the manufacturer’s manual or any time that area of equipment is opened up for other reasons. Particular attention needs to be paid to any signs of heat damage – such as discoloration – or any sign of leakage.
This may sound pretty basic but in my experience some of these basic inspections often get short shrift under the press of hectic business.
John Goglia has 40+ years experience in the aviation industry. He was the first NTSB member to hold an FAA aircraft mechanic's certificate. He can be reached at [email protected].
John Goglia is an independent aviation safety consultant and Adjunct Professor at Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology and regular monthly columnist for four aviation trade publications. He was an airline mechanic for more than 30 years. He has co-authored two text books (Safety Management Systems in Aviation, Ashgate Publishing 2009 and Implementation of Safety Management Systems in Aviation, Ashgate Publishing 2011).
