Dear Editor - thank you for your observation. I read the UPS info regarding LIPO batteries. It appears that shipping TB47 and TB48 batteries, because then are less than 100Wh each, can be shipped by air or land without LIPO labeling as long as the total weight of the package is less than 30kg. The regs are a bit confusing, but I believe that's what it says.
Just an FYI... Inspire 1 batteries at 129.96 WH. I can't fly with them, I go through a rigorous process every time and have only been allowed once to fly and then I could only take 1 battery... I went to the
Inspire 2 and that battery is 97.58 WH and I can only carry 3 and 1 of them has to be in the aircraft. NO Li-ion/polymer batteries are allowed to be just shipped on passenger aircraft. New rules enacted this year for both air and ground transportation are in place. A new label has been created to place on packages to keep them off of passenger aircraft and on cargo planes only if going by air. The UPS spread sheet on page 9 of the document "The Editor" so kindly posted show the correct procedures for both air and ground services. If you read it,,, the label for the class 9 warning AND the cargo transport label have to be put on if you shipping 2 or more batteries and that includes "in equipment" or "packed with equipment. (UN3480, UN3481 and UN3491)
You clearly have more then 2 batteries in that shipment! Now, this is not for me to "point the finger" at you, BUT we must understand the mindset of the shipping companies and in regional situations during holidays and other "heavy consumer shipping seasons" carriers will run packages that were meant for ground service onto passenger aircraft to expedite shipping if ground lanes are congested. I see it all the time especially during the holiday seasons. Doing OUR part as UAS/UAV operators when engaged in the selling or trading/upgrading our equipment is to protect the sealed space within a passenger Aircraft carrying human life by letting shippers know that our packages contain a possible threat to that sealed space if a Li-po overheats and explodes in the cargo area of a passenger aircraft. None of us want that...
It's not that hard to print the label and stick it on just to let the shipper know that your ground shipment can't be "pushed" onto a passenger plane. It saves lives and as most of us here are part 107 license holders, Pilots,,, If we were the ones flying those jets, we'd want to know it too. We are pilots and being one has a reasonable amount of responsibility attached to it... The more we keep our daily operations in order the less the FAA has to use against our right to fly. In the end no one can MAKE you be accountable, you have to do that yourself but if it goes sideways, they will HOLD you accountable for your actions or the lack of them.... Happy Holidays everyone!
