by Alimat Aliyeva
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of
Japan has announced new restrictions on the use of portable
batteries onboard aircraft, set to take effect on April 24. The
measures are aimed at reducing the risk of smoke and fire incidents
involving lithium-ion batteries, which can occasionally overheat in
confined cabin environments, AzerNEWS reports.
Under the new rules, passengers will be prohibited from using
power banks to charge electronic devices during flights, as well as
from connecting them to the aircraft’s onboard power systems. The
restrictions apply to all types of portable batteries, including
spare batteries used for cameras and video equipment.
The Japanese regulator is also revising the carry-on limits for
such devices. The rule allowing no more than two batteries per
passenger will remain in place, but it will now apply to batteries
with a capacity of up to 160 Wh. Batteries with a capacity of up to
100 Wh may still be carried without quantity restrictions, while
higher-capacity units will be counted within the overall allowance
alongside power banks.
Enforcement of the new regulations will be stricter. Passengers
violating the rules will first receive warnings, but repeated or
serious offenses may result in fines of up to 1 million yen
(approximately 10,691 manats, according to The Japan Times).
Interestingly, similar safety measures are being discussed in
other countries as aviation authorities worldwide face an
increasing number of incidents involving lithium-ion battery
overheating. Some airlines are even testing fire-resistant storage
pouches and improved onboard smoke detection systems to further
reduce risks during flight.
AloJapan.com