Forbidden For Transport On Passenger Aircraft

This label appears on the box of hearing aid batteries I just purchased.  Batteries are labeled Duracell Activair 1.45V Zinc-Air on the individual packs contained in the box  There is nothing to indicate that they contain a hazardous substance that could cause an explosion on an airplane in mid-flight.

Does this mean that I cannot wear my hearing aids aboard a passenger aircraft (or carry them in my luggage) if batteries are inserted in the hearing aids?  Or, as I suspect is this like the mattress labels that cannot be removed, even after the mattress has been purchased?

Always check with your airline what their rules are for allowable hand or hold luggage to confirm that hearing aid batteries are permitted.

Pack your batteries carefully to avoid them being crushed or punctured and keep them away from metal objects such as coins, keys, and jewellery. If batteries touch each other, or other metal objects, they may short-circuit due to a large amount of energy surging in a short period of time, which can cause the batteries to stop working.

Never keep batteries loose in your pocket or bag. Ideally, keep them in their original packaging or use a special, purpose-made hearing aid battery holder.

This is from Section 8 at this website (same batteries, different brand)
https://rayovac.eu/air-travel-tips-for-hearing-aid-users/

What a complete Bummer, Glad you will never be a bomber!
Meanwhile /Drump are laying waste to  why we have collective Government to keep us safe! 

This reg seems silly! But that's why some people with real EXPERTIASE are required to help  regulate!

marksierra said:

Always check with your airline what their rules are for allowable hand or hold luggage to confirm that hearing aid batteries are permitted.

Pack your batteries carefully to avoid them being crushed or punctured and keep them away from metal objects such as coins, keys, and jewellery. If batteries touch each other, or other metal objects, they may short-circuit due to a large amount of energy surging in a short period of time, which can cause the batteries to stop working.

Never keep batteries loose in your pocket or bag. Ideally, keep them in their original packaging or use a special, purpose-made hearing aid battery holder.

This is from Section 8 at this website (same batteries, different brand)
https://rayovac.eu/air-travel-tips-for-hearing-aid-users/

Thank you.  The answer to my question lies in the portions of the linked article which state (1) zinc-air batteries do not pose the same risk to airplanes as lithium batteries and (2) may be worn in hearing aids during flight or packed in either hand held or checked luggage.  This would tend to support my feeling that the warning on the box my hearing aids came in can be ignored.  The rest of the article was very helpful regarding best practices before and during flight for people with hearing loss.

Cell phones have lithium batteries. Laptops have large ones. I don't see anyone stopped for taking a phone or laptop on a plane.

TGreene said:

Cell phones have lithium batteries. Laptops have large ones. I don't see anyone stopped for taking a phone or laptop on a plane.

That's usually because the batteries are contained  - in the phone, or the laptop or whatever.

It's when you attempt to take loose batteries on board (whether in hand luggage or stowed baggage) that the authorities get a little antsy.  They generally want you to cover the terminals with something that won't slip off, so that if the batteries do happen to move around, the terminals aren't likely to come up against something metal and short out the battery.

marksierra said:

That's usually because the batteries are contained  - in the phone, or the laptop or whatever.

It's when you attempt to take loose batteries on board (whether in hand luggage or stowed baggage) that the authorities get a little antsy.  They generally want you to cover the terminals with something that won't slip off, so that if the batteries do happen to move around, the terminals aren't likely to come up against something metal and short out the battery.

Interesting... do you have any thoughts about why batteries in bikes are catching fire? Or Tesla vehicles?

marksierra said:

That's usually because the batteries are contained  - in the phone, or the laptop or whatever.

It's when you attempt to take loose batteries on board (whether in hand luggage or stowed baggage) that the authorities get a little antsy.  They generally want you to cover the terminals with something that won't slip off, so that if the batteries do happen to move around, the terminals aren't likely to come up against something metal and short out the battery.

Not always with laptops. My old Lenovo has its battery as a pack externally clicked at its backend. Its removable by shifting two tabs.

Besides, does it make a difference if its contained or not? Either can catch fire.

The new EU standard is that by 2027 cell phone will have user removable batteries. I don't know how much that will help. Many manufacturers do not sell new replacement batteries for phones they no longer sell. You're then  dependent upon third party batteries which may be crap. I had to replace my Lenovo battery and the replacement is crap.

https://www.androidcentral.com/phones/eu-mandates-replaceable-batteries-2027

One significant difference is that zinc-air batteries do NOT contain lithium while computer, e-bike, and electric car batteries currently do.  

marksierra said:

TGreene said:

Cell phones have lithium batteries. Laptops have large ones. I don't see anyone stopped for taking a phone or laptop on a plane.

That's usually because the batteries are contained - in the phone, or the laptop or whatever.

According to our FAA, it’s also because problems with a lithium battery can be spotted right away and taken care of in the cabin, but not in the cargo hold.

https://www.faa.gov/hazmat/packsafe/resources/airline-passengers-batteries

joan_crystal said:

One significant difference is that zinc-air batteries do NOT contain lithium while computer, e-bike, and electric car batteries currently do.  

That's exactly the reason!  Lithium will go off very easily.

This is about e-bike batteries - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mSYxTj5Exo   - but any lithium batteries can pose a danger if mis-handled.

One of the comments given somewhere in the airline safety demonstrations (it might be on the passenger 'seat' card) is, if you drop your phone or other electronic device on the plane, call a member of the cabin crew to retrieve it.  DO NOT move your seat or adjust the seat back to try to get at it. The reason being that if a lithium battery case is punctured or crushed and the metal is exposed to air, it may catch fire.

Our local municipal authorities are already having to deal with lithium batteries that are thrown into the trash rather than being disposed of properly.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-29/garbage-truck-fires-caused-by-batteries-increasing/102398638

Quote:  'Lithium-ion batteries in particular, when they're crushed ... can become very unstable and ignite with explosive force.'

Formerlyjerseyjack said:

marksierra said:

That's usually because the batteries are contained  - in the phone, or the laptop or whatever.

It's when you attempt to take loose batteries on board (whether in hand luggage or stowed baggage) that the authorities get a little antsy.  They generally want you to cover the terminals with something that won't slip off, so that if the batteries do happen to move around, the terminals aren't likely to come up against something metal and short out the battery.

Interesting... do you have any thoughts about why batteries in bikes are catching fire? Or Tesla vehicles?

Batteries in e-bikes or e-scooters generally go off due to overcharging: if you own one of these make sure you only use the charger which was supplied with it.  Over-charging a battery may cause it to heat up and buckle the battery case.  That doesn't matter so much in a 'conventional' battery, but if the case buckles on a litium-ion battery, and the metal is exposed to air, then it will catch fire.

The lithium-ion batteries used in Tesla and, let's be fair, other electric vehicles can overheat.  One cell, out of the thousands comprising the thousands making up the battery pack can overheat, catch fire, and cause a chain reaction eventually involving all the cells in the pack.

The battery packs built into electric vehicles aren't usually exposed to the air unless the vehicle has been in an accident, resulting in the battery case being punctured.

The general rule is not in checked baggage but OK for carryon. The reason is the small (but deadly) risk of a fire. If it happens in the cabin where the people are, it can be extinguished. Not so much in the luggage hold.