Re: [apple-iphone] U.S. Postal Service Bans Shipping of iPads and Other Gadgets Beginning on Ma...

I hope the ban does not become permanent. The problem is with bulk shipments of lithium metal or lithium batteries. Yes, something needs to change, but a ban is the wrong answer.

According to a Wikipedia article, that cited two Aviation Herald articles, "In October 2010, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a Safety Alert For Operators highlighting the fact that the cargo on board Flight 6 contained a large quantity of lithium batteries and that Halon 1301 was inefficient in fighting fires involving them.[8] The FAA issued a restriction on the carrying of lithium batteries in bulk on passenger flights.[28]" It does not quote the FAA Safety Alert or what is considered a large quantity.

I believe as a passenger you are allowed to bring on board something like 3 or 5 grams of lithium, but you would have to carry on something like 5 laptops to do that. Again, that is the limitation for passengers on a passenger plane, not cargo.

So require hazmat warning labels and paperwork for mailing items with lithium batteries. I'm sure the letter carriers would like to know if they are carrying a lithium battery, in their truck loaded with paper, or their bag.

USPS, you're not helping your own case and survival with decisions like this. Keep Saturday deliveries, stop Monday deliveries and close the local post offices on Mondays.

the other Brent


On May 11, 2012, at 8:50 AM, Brent wrote:

> http://goo.gl/hVkjW
>
> Sent to you by Brent via Google Reader: U.S. Postal Service Bans
> Shipping of iPads and Other Gadgets Beginning on May 16 via PadGadget
> by Juli on 5/11/12
>
> If you want to send an iPad, a Kindle Fire, an iPhone, a laptop, or a
> similar device overseas, now is the time to send it, because as of next
> week, the U.S. Postal Service will be banning all electronic gadgets
> that contain a lithium battery.
>
> The reason? Those lithium batteries can potentially explode or catch
> fire when devices are shipped with a full charge, improperly stored, or
> improperly packed. Lithium battery related fire incidents have occurred
> 17 times on passenger flights since 2004, and have been implicated in
> at least one major crash of a UPS plane.
>
> As a result of the ban, people who want to ship electronic devices to
> troops or to family overseas will have to use a private delivery
> service, such as UPS, DHL, and FedEx, which are pricy alternatives.
>
> The ban, which was implemented by the International Civil Aviation
> Organization and the Universal Postal Union, may not be permanent. USPS
> has told customers that by January 1, 2013, small shipments of
> electronics with lithium batteries may be able to be sent overseas, but
> until that date rolls around, people hoping to send the devices will
> have to shell out the cash for a private shipping company.
>
> USPS's refusal to ship devices with lithium batteries will have the
> greatest impact on military serving overseas (DHL and UPS do not
> deliver to APO or FPO boxes) and commercial resellers, who will have to
> increase shipping costs and rely on FedEx, DHL, and UPS, which still
> have challenges in countries like Russia.
>
> The United States and Australia are the only countries that ban the
> overseas shipments of lithium batteries, while other countries, like
> the U.K. allow for smartphones and iPads while banning laptop computer
> batteries, and Japan, who restricts lithium batteries to sea mail. Some
> countries, like Germany, allow international air mail of lithium
> batteries with strict safety requirements.
>
> USPS has not given a reason for the rush, and claims that it is just
> adhering to international guidelines. If you had any shipments planned,
> it's best to get them out now, before the ban is in place and before
> the prices rise. Check out the graphic below for a guide on what's
> going to be forbidden.
>
>
>
> [via Fast Company]
>
> » Related posts:
> - Are iPads and other Gadgets Impacting Professional Sports?
> - British Airways Using iPads to Revolutionize Customer Service
> - Motorola Introduces Live Streaming Device for iPad and Other Gadgets
>
> Things you can do from here:
> - Subscribe to PadGadget using Google Reader
> - Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your
> favorite sites
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>



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