Websites in the USA are reporting that the Trump administration is considering expanding the flight ban on laptops from Middle Eastern airports to all European flights … and possibly other regions as well.

 

Now, it appears that ban might arrive as soon as next week which would mean electronic devices larger than mobile phones being stored in the hold ... and devices typically taken on board by passengers are pictured (left).

 

The Transportation Security Administration and Federal Aviation Administration are apparently laying the groundwork for the ban, and although Homeland Security chief John Kelly has insisted the rule is simply being considered, airlines are prepared for it to be put into effect.

 

This is happening despite the concerns of many pilots that such a ban will make flights less safe.

 

Pilots prefer batteries in the cabin, where attendants can get at them, instead of the hold, where fire suppression systems may not be enough to protect the flight.

Major airlines are now prepared for these incidents with a new invention called AvSax which is now carried on all 1,334 Delta Air Lines aircraft worldwide.

 

Other major carriers also have AvSax.

 

Planes carrying 100 passengers could have around 500 lithium ion batteries on board when you tot up all the laptops, cameras, e-readers, tablet computers and mobile phones … and they pose a potential fire danger.

All are powered by rechargeable lithium ion batteries but there is always a possibility that poor quality or damaged batteries can overheat, causing the device to catch fire.

This is known as thermal runaway, a rapid, uncontrolled chemical reaction within the battery that causes the internal temperature to rise. When one cell in a battery overheats it can produce enough heat - up to 900°C (1652°F) - to cause adjacent cells to overheat. This can cause a lithium battery fire to flare repeatedly.

Research shows there are 1,233 commercial airline companies worldwide and they operate 24,829 planes every day. The number of electronic gadgets in the air at any one time is mind boggling ... and things can go wrong.

The AvSax is a special fire-retardant bag used when lithium ion batteries in mobile phones or other electronic devices catch fire and has been deployed on planes several times already this year.

Simply pour at least two litres of water into an AvSax and then drop the burning device into the bag. The water activates the polymer gel inside the bag causing it to expand around the device. Should the device keep on venting then the AvSax is tough enough to absorb the force.

In short, the AvSax cools the batteries in the device, reducing the likelihood of the battery catching fire but if it does go into what is called thermal runaway and flares up it is all contained within the bag.