TRANSPORTATION OF
DANGEROUS GOODS BY AIR
LEARNING FROM THE MISFORTUNES
OF OTHERS
OBJECTIVES
• To give a brief overview of the requirements for the
transport of dangerous goods by air
• To identify deficiencies in the supply chain that could
lead to serious accidents/incidents
• To demonstrate the challenges facing industry in
ensuring compliance with the regulations
DEFINITION OF DANGEROUS GOODS
Dangerous Goods are articles or substances which
are capable of posing a risk to health, safety,
property or the environment, and which are
shown in the list of Dangerous Goods in the
Dangerous Goods Regulations or which are
classified according to these Regulations.
ENABLING LEGISLATION FOR THE SAFE
TRANSPORT BY AIR OF DANGEROUS
GOODS
• Annex 18 to the Convention
• Aviation Act No. 74 of 1962
• ICAO Technical Instructions
• ICAO Technical Instruction Supplement
• Civil Aviation Regulations of 1997; Part 92
• SA-CATS-DG
• ICAO Emergency Response Guidance for aircraft
incidents involving dangerous goods
• Part 141 Dangerous Goods Training
• IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations – used by
industry (mostly IATA Members) – contains all the
requirements in the ICAO Technical Standards
USE OF THE ICAO TECHNICAL
INSTRUCTIONS and IATA DGR Manual
• Classify & identify proper shipping name
• Check if permitted on passenger/cargo aircraft or
if forbidden
• If forbidden, check if subject to exemption
• Check quantity and packaging
• Prepare consignment – mark/label/document
• Sign Transport Document and offer for transport
• State Variation Requirements
• Operator Variations
LIMITATIONS OF DANGEROUS GOODS ON
AIRCRAFT
• Forbidden for air transport under any circumstances
- certain explosives
- substances liable to produce dangerous evolution of
heat
• Forbidden for transport unless exempted by various
States
• Acceptable for transport on both Passenger and Cargo
Aircraft
• Forbidden for transport on a Passenger Aircraft,
but acceptable on Cargo Aircraft only
LEARNING FROM THE MISFORTUNES OF
OTHERS
PROBABLE CAUSE
• Valujet 592; Chemical Oxygen Generators
• Pan American B-707; Onboard nitric acid fire
• American Airlines DC-10; Chemical Oxygen
Generators
• Fed-Ex DC-10; Flammable Liquids in Lab
Machine
• Continental Airlines B-727; Safety Matches
• DC-8 Freighter in Dallas; Carbon Dioxide
fumes
• American Airlines DC-9; Hydrogen Peroxide
CONTRIBUTING FACTORS
• Lack of training
• Negligence
• Reluctance to declare correct contents - Shippers
• Undeclared dangerous goods
• Mis-declared dangerous goods
• Lack of communication
• Incorrect packaging
UNDECLARED/HIDDEN DANGEROUS GOODS
A MAJOR RISK TO THE SAFETY OF CIVIL
AVIATION
• Risk to the safety of passengers & crew
• Risk of explosion
• Risk of smoke or fire
• Risk of incapacitation of crew – toxic inhalation
• Exposure to Ionizing Radiation
• Exposure to contaminated substances/liquids
• Risk to aircraft radiation contamination
• Incompatible dangerous goods - a ticking
time bomb
UNDECLARED DANGEROUS GOODS
ORIGINAL CONSIGNMENT OF ACIDS
UNDECLARED SULPHURIC AND
HYDROCHLORIC ACID
CORROSION CAUSED BY ACID TO
PALLET BASE
UNDECLARED FLAMMABLE PAINT
UNDECLARED FLAMMABLE PAINT
UNDECLARED COMPRESSED GAS
UNDECLARED SPILLABLE BATTERY
UNDECLARED FLAMMABLES/AEROSOLS
How Could They Have Been Prevented
• Correct content declaration
• Correct classification
• Adequately trained personnel
• Educated clients
• Documented and packed as dangerous goods
• UN Specification packaging
• Concerted effort by all to ensure an overall
level of safety (Don’t buck the system)
SUPPLY CHAIN (AS STRONG AS ITS
WEAKEST LINK)
Road
Consolidator
Rail
Sea
Freight
Forwarder/
Agent
Shipper/
Courier
Org.
PACKER
C
A
R
G
O
T
E
R
M
I
N
A
L
CARRIER
SUPPLY CHAIN - GENERAL CONSIDERATION
• Communication - Instructions from shipper clear
• Compliance with relevant regulations
• Supply chain commercially driven – No shortcuts
• Packing - 99% of undeclared dangerous goods not packed
in accordance with the regulations
• Honesty/trust - Reluctance of Shippers to declare contents
• Safety/security consciousness – do not compromise safety
• Know what you are shipping
• Liability issues in Supply Chain
• Dangerous goods packing organisations can
assist
SHIPPER’S RESPONSIBILITY GENERAL
REQUIREMENTS
• Dangerous Goods not to be transported under any
circumstances
• Identified/classified
• Packed – essential component/Valid Package
Performance Test Certificate – expiry date of
packaging
• UN Specified Packaging
• Marked
• Labelled
• Accompanied by a properly executed transport
document (Shippers Declaration)
• Transport document to be signed by trained
personnel
OPERATOR’S RESPONSIBILITY
• Acceptance Procedures
• Storage and loading
• Inspection
• Retention of records
• Training
• Provision of information, Including emergency
response information
DANGEROUS GOODS TRAINING
• Requirement of regulations – ICAO/CARS and
IATA DGR
• Job Specific
• Different categories of training
oShippers personnel involved in the preparation
of a dangerous goods shipment and contractors
oAir Operators personnel/aircrew/cabin
crew/acceptance personnel/warehouse/drivers
oRamp personnel/security screening personnel
oFreight Forwarders/processing dangerous
goods
• Training by a CAA accredited organisation
ENFORCEMENT BY THE APPROPRIATE
AUTHORITY (SACAA)
• CAR 185 & Section 19 of the Aviation Act of 1962
• Criminal charges - on conviction; fine or
imprisonment or to both fine & imprisonment
• First Time Offender – if not serious - warning
• Injury to persons or damage to property; SAPS
will consider findings before moving for possible
prosecution
• Safety/security is a co-operative venture
ROLE OF SHIPPERS IN TRANSPORTING
DANGEROUS GOODS BY AIR
• Transported in accordance with Regulations
• Overall level of safety maintained at all times
• Security of dangerous goods
• Personnel current in dangerous goods training
• Ongoing training
• Educate clients &personnel about dangerous
goods
• If a chemical is forbidden for transportation by
Air check with CAA if Exemption is applicable
TODAY’S CHALLENGES
• Multi-modal transport – stake holders acting in silos?
• Vision for the future – key role players
• Fragmented regulations
• Proper management
• Identification of critical issues
• International requirements
• Complexities in compliance
• Harmonisation – A distant dream?