Despite ICAO’s strict standards on transporting lithium batteries in checked baggage, research shows prohibited batteries continue to enter the aircraft hold. To address this risk, aviation regulators and airlines called for improved detection solutions, prompting the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to assess the feasibility of using existing airport security equipment to identify lithium batteries in hold luggage.

Specifically, EASA wanted to assess whether adapting existing systems, like Explosive Detection Systems (EDS), with new algorithms and operational changes, could effectively detect lithium batteries and help mitigate the associated risks.

Research & Stakeholder Engagement
Before developing the algorithm, comprehensive research was conducted with stakeholders from across the aviation system. One-on-one interviews took place to understand current techniques and procedures used to identify lithium batteries, gather insights on detection methods and identify any challenges faced.

The study team also engaged other EDS suppliers to determine if they had a lithium detection algorithm for checked baggage. The team sought feedback on their experiences and enquired about any existing adoption of such algorithms at EU aerodromes.

A preliminary Concept of Operations for EDS equipment was created, exploring how the technology could be adapted to integrate lithium battery detection effectively.

Algorithm Development
The first step was defining the battery size criteria to avoid unnecessary alarms and delays. After consulting with EASA and industry stakeholders, an algorithm was developed to detect lithium batteries, including power banks, spare batteries, and those in personal devices with a capacity exceeding 50 Watt-hours. Before trialling within the live environment, baggage was checked offline to understand the performance of the algorithm.

Airport Operational Trial
In July 2024, the algorithm was trialled at a European airport using one of their BTT110 Explosive Detection Systems (EDS). The trial was supervised by Rapiscan, EASA, CAAi, and the UK CAA to ensure compliance. Before the trial, airport screeners were briefed and provided with detailed instructions.

Over three  days, 748 bags were screened using the algorithm:

• 154 bags (21%) triggered a lithium alarm
• 10 bags were found to contain non-compliant lithium batteries
• 144 bags (19%) triggered false alarms (unverified as bags were not opened), highlighting areas for refinement in the algorithm

Alongside evaluating the algorithm’s performance, the human factors in managing additional checks was carefully considered. Daily briefings were conducted with screeners to identify any operational challenges or issues and to assess whether process times were significantly impacted or unacceptably extended.

The study successfully evaluated the performance, capabilities, operational impacts, and limitations of the lithium battery detection solution. The algorithm met the required standard to detect prohibited lithium batteries in a live operational environment, utilising existing security screening equipment and processes. It demonstrated the ability to detect single, low-power lithium batteries, effectively identifying non-compliant batteries as defined by ICAO Dangerous Goods Technical Instructions.

The deployment of the algorithm did have some impact on airport operations and screener performance. The study found variability in the level of knowledge regarding dangerous goods regulations among passengers and screening staff. This suggests that any future deployment of the solution would need to incorporate additional training and procedural enhancements to support the resolution process effectively. The algorithm was considered sufficient for initial trialling purposes but would need further refinements to reduce false detection rates before being implemented into a live environment.

For the full results and recommendations, please visit the EASA study webpage or download the study’s report on the main results obtained.