Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air

Every year more than 1.25 million dangerous goods shipments are transported by air. With air cargo growth predicted at 4.9% every year over the next 5 years, the number of dangerous goods shipments will rise significantly. With so many dangerous goods being shipped by air, safety procedures and regulations must be followed precisely.

LIMITATIONS ON THE TRANSPORT OF DANGEROUS GOODS BY AIR: 

Dangerous goods can only be carried according to the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air (Technical Instructions), irrespective of whether the flight is wholly or partly within or wholly outside the territory of a State. Approval must be granted by the State of the Operator before dangerous goods can be carried on an aircraft. Some dangerous goods have been identified as being too dangerous to be carried on any aircraft under any circumstances; others are forbidden under normal circumstances but may be carried with specific approvals from the States concerned; some are restricted to carriage on all-cargo aircraft; most, however, can be safely carried on passenger aircraft as well, provided certain regulatory requirements are met.

FUNCTIONS AND SERVICES: 

The Flight Operations Unit provides dangerous goods technical expertise to the aviation industry and their key responsibilities include the regulatory oversight of the aviation industry to ensure the safe, secure, and orderly transport of dangerous goods by air. This ranges from Air operators to Ground handling companies providing services to Air operators.

DANGEROUS GOODS TRAINING: 

Tanzania Civil Aviation Regulations require the persons involved in commercial air transport operations (passengers, cargo, or both) to receive and remain current in dangerous goods training. All training must be in accordance with The Civil Aviation (Dangerous Goods) Regulations, 2022, the provisions of which are detailed in the ICAO Technical Instructions. Only training organizations that are approved by the Authority may provide dangerous goods training as per ICAO requirements. 

DANGEROUS GOODS ACCIDENT AND INCIDENT REPORTING: 

The operator of an aircraft, cargo warehouse personnel, aerodrome manager, ramp, and ground handlers involved in a dangerous goods accident or dangerous goods incident within the Republic of Tanzania, shall within 72 hours after such accident or incident has occurred, notify the Authority. The operator of a Tanzanian aircraft involved in a dangerous goods accident or dangerous goods incident outside the Republic, must, as soon as practicable, notify the appropriate authority of the State in the territory where the accident or incident has occurred and the Director General TCAA, of such accident or incident.

NOTIFICATION OF UNDECLARED OR MISDECLARED DANGEROUS GOODS: 

The operator of an aircraft in which dangerous goods are conveyed within the Republic of Tanzania or outside the Republic of Tanzania shall, within 72 hours after the discovery of any undeclared or misdeclared dangerous goods; or dangerous goods not permitted on board the aircraft or in the baggage of a passenger or flight crew member, notify the Director General or the appropriate authority thereof, as the case may be. In order to prevent the occurrence of instances of undeclared and misdeclared dangerous goods in cargo, each operator shall establish procedures for investigating and compiling information concerning such occurrences in the territory and which involve the transport of dangerous goods originating in, or destined for, another territory, and those procedures must be clearly stated in the Operations Manual (OM).

 DANGEROUS GOODS ENFORCEMENT: 

Where necessary, the Authority may follow enforcement procedures with a view to enforcing compliance. 

 GRANTING OF EXEMPTIONS AND APPROVALS: 

The Director General may grant an exemption to enable the transport by air of dangerous goods that may not be permitted in normal circumstances or in conditions that are different from those prescribed in the regulations.