Industry News

The Journey to Safety in the Air
Although the first flight occurred in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, on December 17, 1903, it wasn’t until 1923 that the Civil Aeronautics Board was established. But fortunately for the aviation community, that didn’t mean that planes weren’t certified safe for flight before then. In 1920, the National Aircraft Underwriters Association (NAUA) first commissioned Underwriters Laboratories Standards & Engagement (ULSE or UL) to conduct the inspection of planes and establish adequate manufacturing standards.

By July 1, 1921, the NAUA decided unanimously to mandate that all aircraft be insured against fire, theft, collision, and sinking, and had to be registered with UL. Just one month after the NAUA’s decision, it was determined that even the safest aircraft could not be flown by an unqualified pilot, and UL was again approached to create a set of rules by which pilots could be certified. 

ULSE and Aviation Today 
Though the FAA, established in 1958, is now the official certifying organization for both planes and pilots, ULSE still plays a significant role in aviation safety. Through its standards development process, the ULSE collaborates with stakeholders in all areas of aviation, from research and development, to supply chain and manufacturing, as well as flight personnel, technicians, and regulators, to develop standards that help to safely guide the evolving landscape of aviation technology. 

UL 5840, Battery Powered Ground Support Equipment 
The binational requirements in UL 5840 cover the electrical systems of aviation ground support equipment powered by lithium-based batteries, mitigating fire, shock, and explosion risks related to normal operations, while also accounting for potential misuse. This set of requirements was developed as a result of conversations held at the Singapore Aviation Summit, hosted by UL Research Institutes in November of 2019. 

UL 5800, Battery Fire Containment Products
Battery fires are an increasing problem in both the aviation and automotive industries, with many solutions being developed to help contain the fires caused by these batteries. Since lithium-ion batteries can generate their own oxygen supply, fire containment methods must be rapidly developed alongside battery technology. UL 5800, also a binational Standard, specifically provides criteria for a subset of these lithium-ion powered devices known as portable electronic devices (PEDs). PEDs are items such as laptops, tablets, and mobile phones, and UL 5800 covers fire suppression techniques requiring manual intervention beyond the standard aircraft fire suppression system. 

UL 3030, Standard for Unmanned Aircraft Systems 
Unmanned Aerial Systems, more commonly known as drones, have become vital to various industries and are increasingly popular with hobbyists. Large parts of the drone industry are now regulated by the FAA, prompting increasing calls for safety standards regarding both the operation and manufacturing of drones. The binational Standard, UL 3030, covers UAS electrical systems used in commercial applications, establishing safe parameters for UAS batteries to help mitigate thermal runaway and fire scenarios.  

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