Originally posted on:
Armitage Supporter Ed Slavin, in his blog “Clean Up St. Augustine” went a bit too far in his search for contrast between his favored candidate for FL-7 and apparent front-runner Heather Beaven. In his post supporting Republican incumbent John Mica’s bid to ban smartphones and laptops from US airlines, Slavin got a bit carried away:
"It is a matter of air safety. When we fly, we don’t want to die."
While lithium batteries have caught on fire, the number of times this has happened is dwarfed by the billions of units in service around the world. Clearly, the facts do not justify the kind of hyperbolic language on display in this post.
Likewise, Slavin’s spin of this issue as an attack on Beaven was a bit out of left field:
"Heather Beaven, the Stealth corporativist candidate from the 'monumental, $20 million dollar, growth campaign' that teaches workers nothing about OSHA."
"Heather Beaven: unsafe at any speed?"
Wait, what?
Reading this kind of bizarre vitriol, I was compelled to respond:
"Banning lithium batteries from aircraft would mean eliminating all laptops and smartphones from air travel. This is unrealistic in the extreme, because such devices have become indispensable tools for the business traveler. Airlines have recently added WiFi to their flights in recognition of this fact. Every airport in the US has facilities for wireless networking. These devices allow business travelers to receive, send, and edit data and voice communications with their home offices, out-of-town clients, and suppliers. Banning or confiscating such devices would do much to render business travel impractical.
There have been incidents of batteries catching fire, but of the billions of units in service, the number of documented fires have numbered in the hundreds. Considering the percentage of a device’s life represented by a trans-continental flight, such a ban would represent a gross over-reaction to a very small threat. Even the arch-paranoiac Dick Cheney only applied a one-percent doctrine to his worst-case models. This would be more like a .00001 percent model, and Cheney was talking about nukes!
Look, these things have been in widespread use for a decade, and there are billions of air-miles logged a year. If this were a danger worth imposing this kind of cost, it really would have happened by now.
Furthermore, this issue is hardly the focus of Ms. Beaven’s campaign, and does not justify the inflammatory ad hominem tactics represented in this post. There are plenty of points of disagreement between Armitage and Beaven which could have been explored here, but the Bush-style scaremongering displayed here is unworthy of you or this fine blog."
It’s hard to understand why such an erratic campaigner as Armitage inspires such fervent loyalty. Whatever the political qualities of Beaven, at least she has been running a campaign. She’s been building a team, making appearances, raising money, hiring consultants, and using the media. Armitage has filed no campaign finance reports, has hired no staff, made few public appearances, and refuses to return repeated calls about her status as a candidate.
When she ran last year, she showed little aptitude for retail politics. She was able to win the primary based on the personal loyalties of fellow health care activists in her home county, but got beaten by more than twenty points in the most favorable environment for Democrats in this district since 2002. I’m personally prepared to blame myself for her primary win in 2008, but her idiosyncratic interpersonal style is a strange choice for someone who aspires to elected office. Apparently, her combative and quixotic approach is contagious.
Monday, November 30, 2009
ReplyDeleteHEATHER BEAVEN Eschews the Precautionary Principle
It is a sine qua non among serious Democrats to research before speaking. That's the "precautionary principle."
Where exothermic reactions on aircraft are concerned, the "precautionary principle" governs public policy, just as it does on other hazardous substances and other potential terrorism tools.
HEATHER BEAVEN does not get it....
Parvenu HEATHER BEAVEN eschewed the precautionary principle twice -- once in not researching lithium batteries on aircraft before emitting errant nonsense, and again in mocking Congressman JOHN LUIGIC MICA"s following the precautionary principle.
Ordinarily, JOHN LUIGI MICA is a gambler who runs the table, betting the environment and tourist economy of state on offshore oil drilling, for example. When MICA actually takes the time to work to protect people (as on lithium batteries today and the Glass-Steagall Act in the 1990s), he deserves to be listened to before he is dismissed with ridicule.
Again, JOHN LUIGI MICA is right. HEATHER BEAVEN is wrong. Please regulate lithium batteries on aircraft. It will save lives.
posted by Ed Slavin @ 7:23 AM
New York Times: A Fire Risk That Clears Security
ReplyDeleteOctober 27, 2009
A Fire Risk That Clears Security
By CHRISTINE NEGRONI
Battery fires in personal electronic devices can be scary. But if a battery ignites on a plane, the risks are much greater.
With more people traveling with an assortment of portable electronics — sometimes a plane has more devices than passengers — fires are occurring on airliners with increasing frequency. More than half of the 22 battery fires in the cabin of passenger planes since 1999 have been in the last three years. One air safety expert suggested that these devices might be “the last unrestricted fire hazard” people can bring on airplanes.
This month, the Federal Aviation Administration along with the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration issued special advisories to airlines about yet another gadget: the credit card readers that many have begun to issue to flight attendants to ring up sales of food, drinks and other amenities.
While airlines have used portable credit card readers for several years, the F.A.A. said earlier this month that they needed approval from the agency’s hazardous materials division. Like the majority of hand-held consumer electronic devices, the readers are powered by rechargeable lithium batteries, which the government considers hazardous.
“The carriers came and asked if we would allow them to have the credit card readers on aircraft and they wanted spare lithium batteries to allow them to switch out the batteries,” said Christopher Bonanti, director of the F.A.A. office of hazardous materials. “I was concerned about having spare lithium batteries, and I asked them not to do that.”
Some airlines have agreed to special training for handling batteries and were allowed to carry spares, Mr. Bonanti said. But other airlines, like Delta and JetBlue, figured it was safer to avoid carrying extra batteries altogether.
“They’re not charged onboard the aircraft and batteries aren’t removed from these devices while onboard,” Bryan Baldwin, a JetBlue spokesman, wrote in an e-mail message.
While no fires from credit card readers have been reported, the list of spontaneous combustion events with other devices reads like a thriller. Last month, a portable DVD player was dropped on an American Airlines flight, causing a fire. In March 2008, a United Airlines employee placed a flashlight in the storage compartment of a Boeing 757 at the Denver airport. A report said the flashlight exploded “like gunshots,” turning the on-off switch into a projectile. On a flight to Miami that same month, eight people were injured when a small battery fell against a metal seat frame. In the ensuing explosion, debris singed a passenger’s ear and hair and the smoke sickened seven crew members.
continued
ReplyDeleteIn 2004, an ABC News camera exploded on a plane being used by the presidential candidate John Edwards. A seat caught fire, causing an emergency return to the airport. Even more events go unreported, the authorities said.
“If you have an issue in the air there’s not a whole lot you can do to recover from it,” said Gerald McNerney, a vice president at Motorola, which provides hand-held devices to airlines. “You put your brand at risk if one of your devices has an issue with the battery. What we’ve done is look at creating backups, duplicity in development so that you’re not going to have an explosion.”
Figures from the Consumer Product Safety Commission Web site show that at least 400,000 portable device batteries have been recalled so far this year, an indication that manufacturing problems are sometimes to blame. Batteries are also becoming more powerful, so that even the smallest have the potential to unleash a lot of heat.
“The battery industry is trying to squeeze more juice into these batteries for longer life,” said Joe Delcambre, a spokesman for the hazardous materials agency. “Smaller battery, more life, with a terminal that can overheat the product — it’s a risk.”
Considering that problems with batteries are occurring on passenger planes at a rate of one every four months, Merritt Birky, formerly a fire and explosions expert with the National Transportation Safety Board who is now a private consultant, suggests they should be kept where passengers can keep an eye on them and out of overhead storage bins.
“Any time you have a fire on board it’s alarming, especially in the overhead bin,” Mr. Birky said. “That area is chock full of luggage and coats so you have lots of fuel for a fire and it’s going to go undetected for quite some time.”
The Transportation Department has created a Web site that includes the rules on traveling with lithium batteries, and it works with the manufacturers of portable electronic devices to spread the word about the hazards. But the transportation safety board estimated that only one person in every 170 to 190 travelers had actually visited the Web site.
“Most air passengers and flight crews are likely unaware of the fire risks posed by rechargeable lithium batteries,” the board wrote in 2008 in recommending a more aggressive approach to educating the public. The F.A.A. plans to follow that suggestion when it begins broadcasting public service announcements in airports next year, Mr. Bonanti said.
“There’s a whole slew of things that can go wrong with a lithium battery,” he said, adding that no matter how comfortable people are with their devices, caution is the best course of action.
P: Pilots Support Regulation of Lithium Batteries on Airplanes
ReplyDeleteUnion: Ban Lithium Batteries on Planes
Air Line Pilots Association Says Bulk Shipments of Batteries Can Start Fires in Cargo
(AP) The world's largest pilots union said Tuesday it wants bulk shipments of lithium batteries and products containing the batteries banned from passenger and cargo planes because they can start a fire.
In seeking a federal ban, the Air Line Pilots Association pointed to three incidents since June in which lithium battery shipments apparently caused fires aboard U.S. planes.
On Aug. 14, a fire in a shipment of 1,000 e-cigarettes - a battery-powered device that provides inhaled doses of nicotine - was discovered in the cargo compartment of a plane after it landed at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. Each cigarette contained a rechargeable lithium-ion battery.
In another instance, a package of cell phone batteries shipped from Michigan to the Dominican Republic[] was found smoking and smoldering after a United Parcel Service plane landed in Santo Domingo on July 15. The package documentation indicated "used batteries - non-haz."
A burned package containing a lithium-ion "bicycle-power device" was discovered in the cargo of a UPS flight from Ontario, Calif., to Honolulu on June 18, the union said.
"The evidence of a clear and present danger is mounting," Mark Rogers, director of the union's dangerous good program, said in a statement. "We need an immediate ban on these dangerous goods to protect airline passengers, crews and cargo."
The union emphasized that it is not seeking a ban on passengers carrying electronic devices containing lithium batteries onto planes, such as laptop computers, cell phones, and cameras. Instead, the union's concern is with cargo containing multiple batteries, either loose or inside products.
If a battery short-circuits, it can catch fire and that fire can ignite other batteries.
John Prater, the union's president, said in a letter to Cynthia Douglass, acting deputy administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, that an immediate ban on shipments is necessary until the agency can develop regulations for safe packaging of the batteries for transport.
He noted that Douglass told a House panel this spring that the safety administration is working on new regulations for the shipment of lithium batteries. However, he said that if the government doesn't act quickly, the union will ask Congress to step in.
Officials for the safety administration didn't immediately return a phone call seeking comment.
Prater said the three recent incidents are similar to a Feb. 7, 2006, incident in which a UPS DC-8 made an emergency landing at Philadelphia International Airport after the flight crew detected smoke in the cargo hold, which worsened as the plane descended. The plane landed safely and the crew escaped with minor injuries, but the plane and most of the cargo were destroyed.
"We have been most fortunate that the lithium-ion battery malfunctions (in the three recent incidents) didn't cause an accident, but luck is not a sound safety strategy," Prater said.
The Federal Aviation Administration no longer permits large, pallet-size shipments of lithium-metal batteries on passenger planes. Airline passengers are not allowed to pack loose lithium batteries in checked luggage. Consumer electronics containing lithium batteries are still allowed in carry-on and checked luggage. However, passengers are limited to two spare lithium batteries in carry-on baggage.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
ReplyDeleteReckon JOHN LUIGI MICA is right about banning lithium batteries on airplanes? (Heather Beaven, unsafe at any speed?)
Yes. Heather Beaven is wrong. Dead wrong.
Congressman JOHN LUIGI MICA was right in seeking to ban lithium batteries from airplanes. They are a fire hazard. They are extremely flammable. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) says that "Primary lithium batteries cannot be extinguished with firefighting agents normally carried on aircraft."
We can't carry gasoline or other flamable products on board airplanes, either. No one complains.
It is a matter of air safety. When we fly, we don't want to die.
We need fireproof containers on airplanes to contain lithium batteries.
The Valu-Jet crash in South Florida killed 105 people on May 11, 1998 and was caused by exothermic reactions from chemical oxygen generators wrongfully carried on board.
Heather Beaven's demagogic E-mailing (below) is the sort of misguided partisanship that causes people to die. We need a real Democratic nominee (Faye Armitage, who earned nearly 150,000 votes in 2008).
We don't need as a Democratic nominee an unwise, uncouth Republican act-alike wannabee, someone who prattles (below) airily, as if she were a Stepford WIfe lobbyist from the National Association of Manufacturers. She says that MICS's amendment would "greatly harm large and small business communication. Clearly John Mica is not only out of touch with today's business traveler, he does not understand today's world."
Her "greatly" is as mistaken as her "clearly," adverbs in defense of the indefensible -- a troglodytic anti-safety point of view that verges on mockery and ignorance.
Heather Beaven describes herself as a "social entrepeneur." Evidently Beaven must also be a high-stakes gambler, one who is willing to gamble on air safety with human lives.
When even JOHN LUIGI MICA, a right-wing Republican is willing to stand up for air safety, he deserves praise, not vilification.
So here goes: JOHN LUIGI MICA is right on lithium batteries. Beaven is wrong.
Beaven is unscientific. She wants to make public policy based on slogans, not facts. She's willing to go demagogic, and it is not even 2010 yet. If she's willing to sacrifice air safety, what else is she willing to sacrifice? Occupational safety and health? (Yes, see below).
In fairness, JOHN LUIGI MICA was also right in the 1990s when he voted against the repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act, which allow banks to sell stock and investments. Time has proven that JOHN MICA was correct on that vote, too.
(continued)
ReplyDeleteThe difference between statesmen and politicians is that statesmen can work with people of differing political persuasions for the common good. My first boss, Senator Ted Kennedy, was a statesman. Senator Orin Hatch was one of his best friends, and he would make deals with Hatch and other Republicans to pass progressive legislation.
In contrast, Heather Beaven's reflexive anti-MICA posturing shows that she is a hack, someone with little public policy experience, more mouth than mensch.
Heather Beaven says she's "CEO & President of The Florida Endowment Foundation for Florida's Graduates who oversees all aspects of a monumental, $20 million dollar, growth campaign in stay-in-school, school-to-career and return-to-school initiatives designed to positively impact the graduation rate, employability (sic) readiness and the post secondary education enrollment of students' of untapped promise."
Questions that need to be asked about Heather Beaven's "monumental, $20 million dollar, growth campaignm" a 501(c)(3):
Who funds it? (Government and big corporations).
What does it do? (Little but fancy brochures).
What's the purpose of it (further funding, feel-good for donors, and encouraging "at risk" high school students to become docile workers who show up for work on time, but are never never taught their rights under minimum wage, occupational health and safety, and other laws).
It makes sense that someone who thinks they're doing students a favor not teaching them about OSHA would want to blast JOHN MICA for a pro-safety amendment.
It makes sense that someone who has no business experience would ascribe mean and base motives to all business travelers. Who would want to risk their fellow passengers' safety for the use of a dumb 'ole laptop computer at 30,000 feet?
Heather Beaven, the Stealth corporativist candidate from the "monumental, $20 million dollar, growth campaign" that teaches workers nothing about OSHA.
Heather Beaven: unsafe at any speed?
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
ReplyDeleteROB FIELD Flacking for HEATHER BEAVEN -- Both would have public ignore lithium battery safety issues on aircraft
Usually, it's Democrats who want to regulate safety and Republicans who want legislative loopholes big enough to smash a Mack truck through them.
As he does once every ten years or so (the last time was on Glass-Steagall repeal), Congressman JOHN LUIGI MICA spoke out in favor of regulating something. Good for him. MICA spoke his truth about exothermic, fire-prone lithium batteries on aircraft. HEATHER BEAVEN attacked him, with ROB FIELD flacking for her, talking about how few incidents there are where there are fires. This is what a non-serious Congressional candidate dared to say about airplane fire safety:
NEW VIDEO: JOHN MICA’S ARCHAIC IDEAS ARE OUT OF STEP WITH THE MODERN WORLD
While our families await help from Congress to spur job creation in Florida, John Mica introduced legislation prohibiting lithium batteries on airplanes. This would ban cell phones, laptops and I-pods on commercial airplane flights in America. If John Mica is successful, this would greatly harm large and small business communication. Clearly John Mica is not only out of touch with today's business traveler, he does not understand today's world. In the 20th century, we could "unplug" for days but that just isn't how the world works today.
Even his fellow Republicans in Congress disagree with John Mica on his legislation. They know that Mica's legislation would further depress innovation and job creation.
Click here to watch Mica's comments on banning laptops, cell phones and lithium batteries on commercial airplanes.
http://www.beavenforcongress.com/newsletter/BFCEmail11-24-09a.htm
HEATHER BEAVEN is a low-blow, cheap shot artist who does not research issues.
She emotes. She does not deserve our votes.
As the article below states, "DOT said that "more than 40 air transport-related incidents involving lithium batteries and devices powered by lithium batteries have been identified" since 1991, adding that "many of these incidents were directly related to the lack of awareness of the regulations, risks and required safety measures applicable."
HEATHER BEAVEN sounds ageist and haughty, as if she caught MICA doing something naughty. While MICA is out of touch on many issues, airplane fire safety is not one of them.
During the 1990s, I assisted a fireman whistleblower when USAF took his security clearance for reporting fire safety concerns on the new Air Force One under construction. I also helped a NASA contractor space flight hardware designer raise concerns about exothermic materials on board the Space Shuttles. Knowing about air safety and exothermic chemical reactions (and what can happen), I reckon I know better than ROB FIELD and HEATHER BEAVEN this issue needs.
Good science. Fidelity to safety standards. Expertise.
(continued)
ReplyDeleteNot BEAVEN's flippant excuses for "debate" from someone who's never debated MICA.
Not publicity-hogging nostrums by someone who has no pertinent expertise.
In Congress, there are "work horses" and "show horses."
Sadly, it seems that HEATHER BEAVEN would not be a "work horse" -- she would be a show horse, all hat and no cattle.
In their lust to land a nice gig on Capitol Hill, some Democratic lightweights are willing to lie about JOHN MICA (or even other Democrats).
In particular, noisome ex-MALLOY flack ROB FIELD is despicable, having falsely accused Faye Armitage of noncompliance with the Federal Election Commission filing requirements. ROB FIELD is neither a scholar or a gentleman. False reports are torts and crimes. They should be treated as such.
Thanks for nothing to ROB FIELD and HEATHER BEAVEN.
Thanks and a tip of the hat to Faye Armitage for running for Congress and earning nearly 150,000 votes after spending only some $32,000.
Faye Armitage hasn't raised a lot of money for 2010 yet (not even enough to trigger FEC reporting requirements ROB FIELD couldn't begin to understand).
Faye Armitage is in no hurry to sell her soul, and she won't.
But Faye Armitage has something special -- the respect of Democrats throughout the Seventh Congressional District, who know the difference between sincerity and hypocrisy.
Is HEATHER BEAVEN a "spoiler" because she came out of nowhere to run for Congress as a Stealth candidate, one who won't study before opining and one who has no principled reason why we should run anyone else other than the courageous lady who got nearly 150,000 votes last year running against JOHN LUIGI MICA?
Like Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy, some consultants and candidates resemble a ventriloquist act.
To ROB FIELDS and HEATHER BEAVEN: "hypocrisy is the compliment that vice pays to virtue."
(above are from www.cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com)