- DANGEROUS AIR CARGO
By FGOFF Hamish Terry
As Air Force personnel, it’s a given that we’ll be flying. But how many of us are aware of the dangers we might be innocently placing ourselves and others in by carrying dangerous air cargo (DAC)?
Dangerous Air Cargo goods
When you’re on a military flight, there’s a sense of comfort in the knowledge that trained professionals have conducted safety checks to facilitate a safe passage to your destination.
However, altitude can create adverse effects on substances that are perfectly safe at ground level.
A “she’ll be right” attitude or saying that you “didn’t know” of the dangers is no excuse. So read on—learn what constitutes a dangerous good, and help ensure that the next RNZAF flight you are on will arrive safely.
What are these dangerous goods?
There are many articles and substances—some seemingly innocent—which can create a hazard when transported by air.
Some, such as explosives or radioactive materials, would be readily recognised as dangerous. The big ticket items—live grenades and ammunition—turn up on a, thankfully, infrequent basis.
However, many otherwise harmless items can become dangerous when combined with the variations of pressure and temperature in flight. These include such items as aerosols, and mercury thermometers—to name a few. By far the biggest offenders are readily available items such as hexamine, cooking gas, matches and lighters.
Most items identified as dangerous goods can be carried safely, provided they are properly packed by trained personnel and checked by Air Movement’s staff to ensure they comply with dangerous good regulations.
What is being done to minimise DAC occurrences?
UPS DC-8 flight
Current Air Movements policy is a 100% gear check of all personnel deploying or redeploying on training exercises and operational deployments. The goal is to reduce this down to 10% checks, once it is evident that the DAC message has been positively conveyed and adhered to. To achieve this, the RNZAF is currently conducting lectures, a proactive initiative, to educate Defence Force personnel on the risks posed by DAC. The first of these lectures was given by SGT Bruce Nolan of Christchurch Air Movements as part of an ESS training initiative. Further, Base-wide lectures are planned.
What can we do?
To ensure that your next flight is a safe one:
- Know what goods are dangerous; ignorance of the potential consequences is not an excuse.
- Declare dangerous goods before flying.
- Take responsibility for your belongings, rather than relying on RNZAF personnel to ‘police’ these regulations.
- Take your gas canisters, matches, lighters and hexamine to your Supply store prior to going on exercise or deploying.
Remember
- Most items can be carried on RNZAF flights if they have been declared and properly packed.
- The elimination of DAC on RNZAF flights is the responsibility of the Defence Force as a whole.
- If you are not sure about an item, ask one of the Air Movements staff or your Supply store.
Dangerous goods pose a very real threat to air travel, but can so easily be eliminated—so, please, do the right thing.
References:
The Hidden Hazard; Dangerous Goods Explained
Restricted Items
The following items are examples of restricted items that must be declared to Air Movements personnel before travelling on RNZAF flights:
- Strike anywhere matches
All matches can easily have the protective flap dislodged when moved about in luggage, allowing match heads to rub against the striking surface of another container of matches.
- Easily vaporised liquids
These liquids are mainly solvents such as methylated spirits, lighter fluid and petrol, which are highly flammable as liquids and emit flammable fumes.
- Compressed gases
Gas cylinders and aerosols—excludes limited quantities of medicinal and toiletry articles, which are necessary for the journey.
- Flammable liquids and solids including:
- lighter fuel
- matches
- paints
- thinners
- firelighters (hexamine tabs), and
- cigarette lighters containing unabsorbed lighter fuel.
- Organic peroxides including:
- disinfectants
- fibreglass repair kits, and
- certain adhesives.
Acceptable Items
Small quantities of the following types of dangerous goods may be carried by passengers on RNZAF flights:
- Limited quantities of medicinal or toilet articles (including aerosols) e.g. hair spray, deodorant, and shaving foam. All aerosols should be fitted with a protective or locking cap.
- All matches and cigarette lighters must be declared and carried on the person (i.e. not in a hand bag or overhead locker).
- Surgically implanted cardiac pacemakers.
- Consumer electronic devices containing lithium, lithium ion cell or batteries, such as watches, cameras, cell phones, lap-top computers and camcorders etc. (Spare batteries are subject to certain packing requirements).