The document that accompanies a shipment of hazardous material by air is the IATA Dangerous Goods Shipper's Declaration. This one-page form requests details about the scheduled flight and shipment, including information on the hazard class, quantities, packaging, and special handling instructions. The safe transport of hazardous materials by air begins with proper shipping and handling. Carriers must strictly follow dangerous goods regulations, as this is how the safety protocol for transporting dangerous goods by air starts. The shipping paper requirements are contained in Subpart C of Article 49 of the CFR, Part 172. For the purposes of the regulations on hazardous materials, a transport document is any transport document whose purpose is to communicate a hazard and that meets the requirements contained in this subpart.
Each person offering hazardous materials for transport must describe them in a shipping document that meets the requirements of the HMR. No carrier may transport hazardous material unless accompanied by shipping documentation prepared in accordance with the HMR. Along with the shipper's dangerous goods declaration, the carrier will complete the air waybill. Since air transport is an international problem affecting companies in many different sectors, the rules on hazardous materials applicable to air transport were created thanks to the collaboration of several organizations. When it comes to understanding current regulations on procedures related to hazardous materials in air transport, the IATA DGR is the Bible.
Keeping air transportation within your list of shipping options gives you the flexibility to meet the needs of your customers and suppliers more quickly. Even if you're familiar with shipping hazardous materials by sea transport, you should know that air transport has its own unique set of rules. Dangerous goods can be shipped by air provided that the personnel responsible for packaging have specific training and that the goods themselves are properly packaged, labeled and declared in accordance with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards for the safe transport of dangerous goods by air. IATA works diligently to ensure that air transport remains safe, whether during passenger travel or when transporting dangerous goods by air. An experienced freight forwarder should be able to help you properly label, pack and ship your cargo by air transport. And when it comes to high-end luxury goods, air transport can keep your shipments flawless by subjecting them to minimal handling.
The regulatory body responsible for the transport of dangerous goods by air is the ICAO. However, IATA is the International Air Transport Association (IATA) that applies to certain member airlines, which follow IATA rules when applicable. Air transport offers you the advantage of being able to move shipments quickly and with a minimum of handling.
