The thumb rule should be that convenience must never outweigh safety especially when the matter is related to the lives of travellers crossing skies.
In this context, it has become utmost necessary that Directorate General of Civil Aviation’s (DGCA) latest advisory prohibiting the use of power banks to charge electronic devices during flights should be implemented in letter and spirit as it is the matter of life and death, and choosing lives is the only option available to all.
No one can deny that the DGCA has been working diligently to ensure that skies remain safe for those who prefer to fly to reach their destinations with speed and convenience, and questioning the stance taken by this primary regulatory body for civil aviation, responsible for ensuring safety, setting standards, and regulating air transport services within India, including issuing pilot licenses and overseeing airworthiness and air safety is not at all a good idea, as it only bats for timely and necessary interventions meant for making air travel reliable and relaxing.
There is no doubt that the latest advisory on the use of power banks has been issued after considering things thoroughly and threadbare as reportedly the decision has followed multiple incidents globally where lithium batteries overheated or caught fire onboard aircraft, posing danger to passengers and crew. No one can deny the fact that despite being ubiquitous and efficient, the Lithium-ion batteries are risky and unpredictable especially when overheated or improperly handled thus making it necessary for one and all to follow the directions issued by the DGCA with regard to the use of power banks mid air.
As any fire incident in operational flights has the potential to escalate, endanger lives of passengers and the crew, and even devastate the aircraft therefore it is advisable to follow the directions without any hitch or hurdle. The DGCA has taken the right step by mandating that power banks be carried only in hand baggage, banning their use throughout the flight, and not allowing their storage in overhead bins. It is always necessary that the people travelling by air should follow the advisories issued by the aviation regulator without fail as these are meant for the safety and convenience of all.
There is dire need that all the stakeholders in the airline industry should take the new advisory very seriously and ensure that the concerned lot takes all steps for failsafe compliance to make air travel worthy and safe as it used to be since the inception of aircrafts. Awareness and cooperation can make a big difference in this whole gamut and therefore handling power banks as suggested by the DGCA can safeguard lives on board. All said and done, travel etiquette today must include safety consciousness.
