Avionics News September 2015 - 12

F R O M
R I C
P E R I
A EA V I C E P R ES I D E N T O F G OV E R N M E N T & I N D U ST RY A F FA I RS

The Aircraft Electronics Association's international membership continues to grow. Currently, the AEA represents avionics
businesses in more than 40 countries throughout the world. To better serve the needs of the AEA's international membership,
the "International News and Regulatory Updates" section of Avionics News offers a greater focus on international regulatory
activity, international industry news and an international "Frequently Asked Questions" column to help promote standardization.
If you have comments about this section, send emails to avionicsnews@aea.net.

UNITED STATES

News & Regulatory Updates
FAA amends lithium battery
criteria for transport category
aircraft that is contained within
the Field Approval Job Aid
Changes to designs involving lithium batteries or battery systems requires a supplemental type certificate
except for the following cases:
1. Very small batteries or battery systems (e.g.
button/coin cells) not required for safe operation of the airplane that have less than 2 watthours of energy and meet UL 1642, UL 2054 or
International Electrotechnical Commission 62133.
2. Non-rechargeable batteries or battery systems in
accessible areas for which applicable special conditions have been established. If established, these
requirements are identified in the certification
basis section of the type certificate data sheet or
supplemental type certificate.
An accessible area is defined as an area normally
occupied by crew or passengers during flight and that is
reachable with the contents of a hand fire extinguisher
without moving any panel.
Please note:
* Design changes involving lithium batteries are
highly visible at this time due to incidents that
resulted in FAA airworthiness directives.
12

avionics news

september

2015

The National Transportation Safety Board and
Air Accident Investigations Branch issued safety
recommendations regarding lithium battery installations.
* The NTSB safety recommendation is documented
in a letter to the FAA, dated May 22, 2014. The
AAIB safety recommendation is in Bulletin
S5/2013.
* Requiring STCs for these changes will provide visibility to the FAA Transport Standards staff who
is working to promote standardization in safety
assessments and compliance findings.
* These changes must comply with special conditions in addition to 14 CFR Part 25.
* Rechargeable batteries or battery systems have
more failure modes resulting in more risk than
non-rechargeable batteries or battery systems.
Changes to designs involving non-rechargeable lithium
batteries or battery systems in accessible areas for which
applicable special conditions are identified in the certification
basis section of the type certificate data sheet or supplemental
type certificate can be accomplished with engineering data.
Very small batteries or battery systems (e.g. button/coin cells)
not required for safe operation of the airplane that have less
than 2 watt-hours of energy and meet UL 1642, UL 2054
or International Electrotechnical Commission 62133 are an
exception that does not require an engineering evaluation.
Also note that the safety assessments for these changes
will often be more straightforward than the lithium battery/battery system changes in item H.7. Coordinate with
the ACO, since compliance must be demonstrated to special conditions in addition to 14 CFR Part 25.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Avionics News September 2015