Battery age and type

In addition to whether you have stored old or new aircraft batteries, there is another factor that needs to be considered. What type of aircraft battery is it?

All batteries are subject to the laws of entropy and will begin to self-discharge as they sit idle, whether Ni-Cd (nickel-cadmium), Li-ion (Lithium-ion), or lead-acid, but these types of battery differ considerably in replacement cost. Li-ion can run almost five times the price of a Ni-Cad, with Ni-Cad still factoring in the thousands of dollars.

"95% of civilian platforms are running Ni-Cad," Bigley said. "The only Li-ions that we deal with are the A350 and the Boeing 787. Ni-Cad tends to be more robust, whereas Li-ion has greater power output. Regardless, both are subject to losing their change as they sit.

"The main takeaway that airlines should consider is this: Before they go back into service, aircraft batteries always need to be maintained and re-certified. And since none of us know how long this lockdown will last, if airlines maintain their current batteries properly during this period they will have to buy fewer new ones when the aircraft can once again re-enter service."

The Satair Takeaway

We are currently in an unprecedented situation in which aircraft and their batteries are sitting idle for much longer than they are intended to. While factors regarding how often to recharge, repair or replace those batteries are subject to factors such as age, type, and OEM recommendations, it is important to remember that we still have no indication on how long the majority of aircraft will remain grounded. While you could play off the guidelines specific to your aircraft's battery, it may be more advisable to err on the side of caution and have your aircraft batteries routinely checked and serviced so as to prolong their life through this lockdown period.

Learn more about our specific battery services here or go directly to our Satair Market to procure the batteries that you need to get your aircraft back in the air.

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Why should airlines consider their battery service before re-entry into service?