Federal Aviation Administration Issues New Recommendations for E Cigarettes
When you head out on a trip, you are free to bring your electronic cigarette along with you a long as it is legal in the country you plan to visit. The Transportation Security Administration has approved e cigs for both checked luggage and carry on bags, but that could change in the future. After a handful of ecig related fires on airplanes and in airports, the Federal Aviation Administration has recommended that commercial airlines restrict e cigs from checked luggage. The good news is that the FAA is still okay with passengers bringing their vaping supplies as long as everything stays in carry on luggage rather than being checked in suitcases.
A similar recommendation came from the International Civil Aviation Organization last month. According to the FAA, there was a worrisome incident in August when an e-cig caused a fire in the cargo hold of a plane. Passengers were forced to evacuate onto the tarmac while authorities worked to put out the fire. Another incident occurred recently at LAX when an ecig caught fire in a checked bag in the baggage claim area.
The FAA said they don’t see a need to ban ecigs from planes completely, but passengers should keep them in carry on bags to avoid fires in the baggage area, which could be difficult to get to in an emergency. “These incidents and several others occurring outside of air transportation have shown that e-cigarettes can overheat and cause fires when the heating element is accidentally activated or left on,” the FAA safety warning said.
It’s refreshing to see the FAA take a balanced approach to electronic cigarettes on airplanes. While fires can and do occur, it’s extremely rare and highly preventable. When you travel, make sure you keep your ecig turned off and the battery stored according to manufacturer directions.
A similar recommendation came from the International Civil Aviation Organization last month. According to the FAA, there was a worrisome incident in August when an e-cig caused a fire in the cargo hold of a plane. Passengers were forced to evacuate onto the tarmac while authorities worked to put out the fire. Another incident occurred recently at LAX when an ecig caught fire in a checked bag in the baggage claim area.
The FAA said they don’t see a need to ban ecigs from planes completely, but passengers should keep them in carry on bags to avoid fires in the baggage area, which could be difficult to get to in an emergency. “These incidents and several others occurring outside of air transportation have shown that e-cigarettes can overheat and cause fires when the heating element is accidentally activated or left on,” the FAA safety warning said.
It’s refreshing to see the FAA take a balanced approach to electronic cigarettes on airplanes. While fires can and do occur, it’s extremely rare and highly preventable. When you travel, make sure you keep your ecig turned off and the battery stored according to manufacturer directions.
