Should we switch off our portable battery packs when flying, or continue using them to recharge our phones? There’s a great deal of traffic about this on the internet. We already know we have to keep our power banks with us as hand baggage. Now India’s aviation regulator has decided passengers must turn off power banks on flights too, if they want to visit the Asian subcontinent.
India Bans Use of Power Banks In Flight
Gulf News confirms that India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation, DGCA, has banned the use of power banks on flights in Indian airspace. In terms of this policy, passengers may not use them for charging phones. But that’s not all …
The new policy also outlaws recharging power banks, and any other devices, using in-seat power outlets. This restriction applies throughout flights, not just during take-off and landing.
Passengers may, however, still bring power banks (and other battery-powered devices) with them as cabin baggage. Provided, of course, they keep their power banks turned off on flights while in Indian airspace.
Could This Apply to Flights in Other Airspace?
It’s entirely possible, although we have not heard anything along those lines yet. The fire hazards of lithium-ion batteries on aircraft are common knowledge, and there have been a number of well-publicized incidents.
The convention of keeping power banks and spare batteries away from checked baggage and overhead bins seems universal. Various airlines have already limited the use of power banks during flights. We’ll wait and see what happens next.
More Information
Should You Take a Power Bank on a Plane?
