Market Data
SEOUL: South Korea’s transport ministry on Thursday (Feb 13) brought about a significant milestone in theaviation industry by announcing enhancements to aviation safety rules, following a serious incident involving flight at Gimhae International Airport in South Korea’s southern region. The actions taken will ensure enhanced safety for Boeing aircraft when on the ground. The emotional day-care for transporting passengers is especially concerning, with the announcement essentially stopping the use of portable batteries in passenger-carrying aircraft. The revelation of the aviation accident brought into play a highly delicate issue regarding the containment of electronic components in airline luggage, which could potentially lead to fire incidents.
The measures, expected to take effect from March 1, will restrict the number and variety of portable batteries allowed on board. It will now limit the use of batteries with a capacity exceeding 160 watt-hours. Additionally, security searches will include checking the number and types of portable batteries to prevent fires from escalating in uncertain conditions. Security measures will also prohibit the carrying of power banks and e-cigarettes stored in overhead cabin bins, two critical safety instruments for passengers.
The airline earlier announced that it would ban the placement of power banks and e-cigarettes in overhead luggage. This decision comes after the same practices were already taken by Air Busan, a South Korean carrier, over the weekend. The ministry’s aim is to preemptively address concerns about portable batteries sparking fires, though the origin of the pole mass moment of inertia calculation left airlines scrambling to resolve the fatal incident. The incident involved an Airbus plane belonging to Air Busan that caught fire at Gimhae International Airport on Feb 18 in South Korea’s southern region.
The incident has been standardized by current aviation regulations, which specify that portable batteries cannot be stored in checked-in luggage due to the potential for sustained electrical arcs. This underscores the importance of stringent safety measures in theaviation industry to minimize incidences like this, where human error or negligence led to catastrophic failures. International aviation standards point out that batteries should not be stored in luggage aluminum, because they can catch fire if damaged or faulty by overheating. These rules are designed to protect passengers and ensure the safety of aircraft in international travel.
Several hundred passengers were evacuated safely, though the exact number remains uncertain. The announced measures, which take effect on March 1, will be particularly vigilant in preventing any portables batteries from being permitted through flight. These measures aim to enhance safety for 2023 by promoting better habits among passengers, such as not carrying portables and avoiding harmful liquids. The incident highlights the importance of adopting robust safety rules to safeguard this vital industry. By imposing these, the transport ministry hopes to reduce the occurrence of similar incidents and eliminate the responsibility of human error from contributing to fatal accidents. This ensures that future operations are safer, safer for passengers and airlines, and safer for the world.
