Please attribute this statement to PRBA Executive Director George Kerchner
Washington (August 10, 2015) – “A broad framework for moving forward on a performance-based standard for shipping lithium batteries by air was developed during the recent ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) meeting in Montreal. A performance-based standard will have a substantial impact on PRBA members, the lithium battery industry generally and the thousands of shippers and carriers involved in the transport of lithium batteries by air.
No decision was made on which standard setting organization should be responsible for developing the standard, although the FAA said the RTCA-a U.S. based aviation standards organization-may be appropriate for this effort. PRBA has requested a meeting with FAA officials to discuss the most efficient path forward to drafting and implementing this unprecedented lithium battery standard.
PRBA looks forward to participating in the October meeting of the ICAO Dangerous Goods Panel, which is expected to address the performance standard and other matters regarding the transport of lithium batteries by air, including high density shipments on aircraft and state of charge limits on lithium ion batteries.”