Advocacy & Safety - FYI: FAA concerned with bike lights in luggage

No, you don't have to write your congresspeople...

I have a friend that is an electrical engineer for a large aerospace company and whom deals frequently with the FAA folks.

He told me that they're getting concerned with the possible fire danger of the bike lights packed with the batteries still inside. They could cause fires and may represent a danger in air safety.

The FAA hasn't issued any official policy about it, but if you're flying with your bike- you might want to double check that the lights are battery free.

I find it odd that the FAA would get all uppity about batteries now. Did he happen to mention if the concern was with the blinkie-lights or full-on riding lights? I know most high-end lighting equipment including mine use fairly large NiCad or NiMH (some even use LiIon) battery packs. And yes, given the right circumstances (shorting the terminals) these packs can catch fire and/or explode. The thing is, these battery packs are no different than any other battery pack used in laptop computers (and some of those have been known to have caught fire). For that matter, the batteries in my blinkie-lights are just AAA batteries... some use AA... garden variety consumer batteries found in any other consumer electronics device such as portable CD players.

Also, are they concerned with checked luggage or carryon or both? I wonder how TSA reacts to people lugging around a 40W dual-beam system with multiple 3200mAh batteries in their carryon. Anyone have any problems so far?

In my industry, I tend to carry quite a bit of electronics... some of them unusual. I once had a security agent get very baffled when he pulled a GBIC (GigaBit Interface Converter... a small device crammed full of electronics with two ports fitted with laser diodes) out of my bag because he couldn't tell what it was. Curiously enough, post-9/11, I have had far less people question me on some of the more obscure electronic and computer equipment I carry. Now I wonder about some of those computer manufacturers who are looking into putting small gas-turbine generators into their laptops in lieu of or to supplement battery power and how well that will play over.

for something like batteries in cargo it would more the change in whether to allow or not to allow more than likely will come down from IATA instead of the FAA. There was some rule changes this year with lithium batteries but none of the others. We just got the new regs a couple of weeks ago and there were no changes for batteries. It is a good idea when you are transporting any equipment that is battery powered to remove them and store them separately, just as a precaution.

Sorry about the delay... I have the reply from my friend about the FAA concerns:

"The FAA is concerned about anything in baggage (carry-on or checked) that could heat up and start a fire. Obviously a fire in checked baggage is worse because you can't get to it an put it out.

Something like a flashlight or radio is not so bad. If the flashlight is left on, the bulb will heat up but it is kept from touching any clothing by the plastic lens (believe it or not, there is a US standard that a flashlight cannot ignite clothing). Same with a radio, even on, it won't start a fire.

With the bike light, there is no standard for no ignition of clothing. You could do an experiment - turn the light on for 5 minutes and then drape an old sock over it. My guess is that the sock would at least smolder.

Anyway, right now it's OK to put the light in your luggage. However, I think there will be a new rule against it shortly."

I hope this can answer any questions you may have. If not, I'll ask him again! :)

If this is for real, it is ridiculous. Passengers can carry cigarette lighters and matches on board, but you can't have a bicycle light in your luggage.

I remember just after 9-11 before we all figured out that we couldn't take finger nail clippers in our pockets when boarding an aeroplane. I had forgotten about a machine part that was in my briefcase from a customer's factory I had visited the day before (I worked in the machine industry at the time). The part happened to be a long and very sharp blade of about 14 inches; very wicked to be sure.

When I went through security, sure enough the metal detector noticed the metal machine blade I had forgotten. "Do you have a tool or something in there?" the security guard asked. Then I remembered and said, "OH ya, you mean THIS?", I asked and pulled out the blade.

"aaahh, no, not that.", he replied, "Something like a pliers or something..."

"Oh ya!" I said as I remembered a pair of pliers in the bottom of my briefcase. I pulled it out and gave it to him, "is this what you are looking for?" I asked.

"Yup, that's it exactly. You can't take that on board. We will have to confiscate your pliers." he instructed.

"OK. What about THIS", I asked holding up the wickedly sharp 14 inch blade.

"Oh, that's OK." the security guard assured me, "you can take that with you"

I shrugged, put the blade in my briefcase, and went on to board the plane.

Meanwhile, the security officer spent the rest of his day taking knitting needles from old ladies and finger nail clippers off of key-chains.

If this is for real, it is ridiculous. Passengers can carry cigarette lighters and matches on board, but you can't have a bicycle light in your luggage.

I'm suddenly reminded of that scene from the movie Airplane when the old lady goes through the metal detector and it goes off. Then a swarm of security guards envelope her and wrestle her to the ground. Meanwhile, a string of mean-looking camo-wearing guys stream through the metal-detector unabated with exposed rocket launchers and crew served heavy weapons.

With the bike light, there is no standard for no ignition of clothing. You could do an experiment - turn the light on for 5 minutes and then drape an old sock over it. My guess is that the sock would at least smolder.

Afterward you can enjoy the aroma therapy! :D