The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (SHGM) has implemented an important decision directly concerning flight safety. Under the new directive issued by the institution, passengers are now prohibited from charging portable batteries (power banks) inside aircraft. The regulation was put into effect in line with updates made to international standards.
Implemented in Turkey
According to SHGM's official statement, this change is based on new technical instructions adopted by the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) on March 27, 2026. The update to the document known as Doc 9284, published under the title "Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air," reshaped the rules, particularly concerning lithium batteries and portable electronic devices.
In this context, SHGM, with Flight Operations Directive numbered UOD-2026-01, made it mandatory for all aviation stakeholders operating in Turkey to comply with the new rules. The directive covers a wide range, from commercial air transport operators to general aviation companies, ground handling organizations, and flight crews.
New Limits Introduced for Passengers
With the new regulation, significant restrictions have been introduced regarding power bank use during flights. Accordingly, charging power banks inside the aircraft is completely prohibited. Furthermore, the number of portable batteries passengers can carry has also been limited. According to the new rule, a passenger can carry a maximum of two power banks.
Another notable detail concerns the charging of portable electronic devices (PEDs, such as mobile phones, tablet computers, laptops, electronic game consoles, e-readers, MP3 players, etc.). SHGM specifically emphasized that the use of power banks for charging these devices during flight is not recommended. This statement, while not a complete technical prohibition, serves as a strong safety warning.
The published directive also included a separate assessment for flight crews. Accordingly, portable batteries carried for operational necessities are exempt from these restrictions. However, the same rules continue to apply to power banks carried by crew members for personal use.
The new regulation is considered part of the measures taken against the risks of fire and overheating that lithium batteries can pose. Following this update by ICAO, many countries have implemented or are in the process of implementing similar practices.
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