B777-200
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Other / Unknown
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors; Manuals; Procedure
Last month; I had 51 packages of lithium ion batteries as cargo on a flight from ZZZZ to the United States. The NOTOC [Hazmat] form was not clear at all about the physical size of the lithium batteries; or whether they were individually packaged or inside a consumer product; and also the total weight of the batteries themselves. Perhaps the weights refer to the consumer products (cameras; phones; games; computers). I did some research into these issues after flying home with those 51 packages containing lithium ion batteries; which were of some indeterminate size and vague quantity (apparently; spare batteries may not be counted; if included). This month; I flew the same flight. Planned cargo was 227 packages of lithium ion batteries. It's possible the higher number of packages was caused by the cancellation of an earlier flight. Due to the same limitations of the previous NOTOC form in providing information to me; the Captain; I felt this number of packages was not reasonable. Lithium ion batteries in any quantity are known to be volatile. In fact; there is a 25 KG compartment limit in checked baggage on passenger aircraft. Even a cursory addition of the weights on the NOTOC form (227 times 4 KG/average weight per package is approximately 2;000 LBS) reveals a LOT of batteries of any size; shape or form. In order not to delay the flight; I made a command decision about an hour before departure; and asked the Operations Manager to remove the lithium ion battery cargo from my aircraft. Again; the quantity of packages containing lithium ion batteries did not seem reasonable to me for a passenger aircraft. There is a 100 watt hour limitation on small batteries; but apparently; no limit on the number of packages if they are packed in smaller sizes. However; nothing on my NOTOC form indicates that the batteries on my flight were small. However; if they were small lithium ion batteries; then why was the required 2.5 KG limit exceeded on my NOTOC form? One (1) package weighing 6.9 KG. Here is a quote from an IATA document that seems to sum up my own concerns: This instruction applies to lithium ion or lithium polymer cells and batteries (UN 3480) on passenger and Cargo Aircraft Only. The general requirements apply to all lithium ion cells and batteries prepared for transport according to this packing instruction: Section IA applies to lithium ion cells with a Watt-hour (Wh) rating in excess of 20 Wh and lithium ion batteries with a Watt- hour rating in excess of 100 Wh; or to quantities of lithium ion cells or batteries in excess of those permitted in Section IB of this packing instruction which must be assigned to Class 9 and are subject to all of the applicable requirements of these regulations; preflight issues should not include deciphering the current NOTOC form in order to make the kind of decision I did. There should be more information made available to the Captain. If the NOTOC had included a description of the products; and more importantly; that the batteries were packed in a blister wrap; the crew could use generally available knowledge to make a decision. The 100 watt hour limitation is a specialized description; quite useful and accurate in its way; but beyond the layman's ability to comprehend and equate to a particular size; e.g.; a watch battery. In addition; until IATA requires the use of a fire protective wrap; the number of packages in a forward cargo compartment may exceed the ability of a halon fire extinguishing system to put out a lithium ion battery fire. And for my flight; these batteries were listed as Class 9; which is larger than a watch battery. For all of these reasons; I am writing with the hope that a better NOTOC form can be produced; allowing the Captain to decide if carrying 227 lithium ion batteries across the Pacific in the middle of the night is a good idea.
B777 Captain laments the lack of detailed information provided by a hazmat form listing lithium batteries. With insufficient information the batteries are removed prior to departure.