Mercury is Considered The Greatest Threat to Airplanes
In a post 9/11 world, we’ve all gotten used to a different commercial flight experience than we’re used to. Thanks to new safety regulations and the ever-vigilant TSA, it takes an hour or more to get on a flight and every potential threat is examined, re-examined, and eliminated. Suspicious folks get pulled for extra screening, we all take our shoes off, and there are serious restrictions on what we can bring on board.
However, some threats to aviation are less terrorist and more scientific. For example, mercury. Found in thermometers and some other household goods, mercury is interesting stuff. The only metal that is a liquid at room temperature, mercury has been prized for centuries due to its unique qualities and unusual behaviors. And while that may make for interesting science experiments and useful applications, it’s less fun for aircraft.
See, airplanes are to a great extent made of aluminum, and aluminum and mercury do not play well together. Even a tiny quantity of mercury can cause serious damage to an aircraft, such that airplanes that have been exposed to mercury are usually quarantined and decontaminated. So while mercury may be cool stuff, needless to say, it’s not allowed on board . . .