Scooters safe for GA?

[AvNavCom]

A mite high performance but dead simple. There’s a few in GA already.

You're suggesting that people should stow an NFO in their baggage compartment and ride on their shoulders to get to places?

 

[Scotty66]

I commute by plane to work. It is 3 miles from the airport to my place of work. The scooter is essential. 28 miles per hour, very easy to ride. only downside it is 50 lbs. Def works for me. I fly a glasair 2 and it is tight but the scooter fits.

 

[AV8R_87]

28 miles per hour, very easy to ride

I have a 20" e-bike that tops out at 25-ish mph. It doesn't feel really safe at that speed, doesn't take too much of a bump/hole in the road to upset it.
You're brave attempting 28 on wheels that are 4 times smaller.

 

[flyingcheesehead]

I have not received any additional info since that thread which changes my (personal) summary:

-the containment bags might slow down the airframe damage (especially the very expensive bags) but not the gases.
-having oven mitts around is a good idea

Oven mitts aren't enough. You need the gloves the firemen use.

The battery containment bags we use come with gloves.

-halon fire extinguishers are best but not likely to truly end the crisis

They *will not* stop a lithium battery from burning. You have to remove the heat, and a lithium fire carries a *substantial* amount of heat.

The bag (probably) gives you enough for a no-kiddin'-get-it-on-the-ground-NOW emergency descent and landing whereupon you open the door on rollout and throw it out, preferably in such a way that it does not land on or in front of any part of the airplane.

-no Li batteries in baggage (not enough time to notice a fire in the unpressurized areas of the plane)

Also, no ability to grab the offending battery and throw it in a fire bag.

-no large Li batteries like hoverboards etc

For air carriers, the limit is 100Wh per battery for use in flight, with up to 2 more batteries of up to 160Wh being carried but not in use. Terminals must be insulated. 49 CFR 175.10(a)(18).

For anyone operating a personal flight under Part 91, the above doesn't apply other than as a good guideline of what DOT/FAA considers hazardous.

FWIW, some hoverboards fit into the 100-160Wh range, most of the e-bike and scooter batteries are significantly larger.

 

[Albany Tom]

I've personally experienced lithium battery fires outdoors, in the 6 to 10 Wh range, and you really don't want that in your plane, let along 10+x that.

In my head, it's like a mini white phosphorous thing, except with way more light and heat, and even less possible to put it out.

That said, if you don't short them, overcharge them, or puncture them, they're OK. Kinda like the rules for gremlins. Break the rules and you have a problem.