Interpretation Response #01-0183 ([Air Freight Center, Inc.] [Mr. William G. Warder])

Below is the interpretation response detail and a list of regulations sections applicable to this response.

Interpretation Response Details

Response Publish Date: 04/10/2002

Company Name: Air Freight Center, Inc.

Individual Name: Mr. William G. Warder

Location State: MO Country: US

View the Interpretation Document

Response text:

April 10, 2002

Mr. William G. Warder                        Reference No. 01-0183  

Air Freight Center, Inc.

Kansas City International Airport

P.O. Box 20104

Kansas City, Missouri 64195

Dear Mr. Warder:

This responds to your June 20, 2001 letter regarding the applicability of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) to aircraft imported into the United States by vessel under the International Maritime Organization's Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code) and transported by highway to their U.S. destination.  Please accept my apology for our delay in responding to your inquiry.  Your questions are paraphrased and answered below.

Ql.       Are aircraft offered for transportation as freight in freight containers Subject to the HMR?  If so, how should they be classed and described?

Al.        If an aircraft contains hazardous materials in undamaged components, it may be transported as a self-propelled vehicle (i.e., Vehicle, flammable liquid powered) under 49 CFR 173.220. Shipments made under the provisions of § 173.220 are excepted from the marking, labeling, placarding, and emergency response telephone number requirements of the HMR when transported by vessel (see § 173.220(e)(2)), but otherwise must conform to the requirements in 49 CFR 176.905. For domestic transportation by highway, an aircraft is not subject to any other requirements of the HMR if it is transported in accordance with the provisions of § 173.220.

Q2.      Because of their size, some aircraft must be disassembled and loaded into multiple freight containers.  What HMR or IMDG Code requirements apply to the transportation of disassembled airplanes and airplane components loaded into multiple freight containers?

A2.      Components containing hazardous materials that are removed from the aircraft and packaged separately must conform to the applicable packaging requirements for the hazardous materials contained therein.  If a disassembled aircraft or aircraft component contains a hazardous material that is regulated under the B11R or the IMDG Code, then the disassembled aircraft or component is subject to applicable HMR or IMDG Code requirements.  Unless specifically identified in § 173.220(a), disassembled aircraft and aircraft components containing hazardous materials loaded into multiple freight containers are not eligible for the exceptions in § 173.220(e).

For vessel or highway transportation, aircraft components must be described using the most appropriate shipping description in either the Dangerous Goods List in the 1MDG Code or the Hazardous Materials Table (HMT) in the HMR.  Some components are specifically listed by name, including life saving appliances, not self-inflating; life saving appliances, self-inflating; oxygen generator, chemical; oxygen, compressed; engines; and the like.  For listed materials, consult the packaging reference in Column 8 of the HMT for packaging requirements.  For example, an aircraft engine containing residual fuel, is properly described as "Engines, internal combustion, 9, UN3166" and prepared for shipment under § 173.220. Additional requirements and exceptions for self-propelled vehicles and internal combustion engines transported by vessel are provided in § 176.905.

Other components of a disassembled aircraft are not specifically listed by name.  Such components may be described as "Dangerous goods in machinery or apparatus, 9, UN3363" and packaged in accordance with

§ 173.222 of the HMR.  An example is a fuel control unit containing residual fuel and shipped as part of a wing assembly.

Q3.      Are any exemptions or approvals required when offering aircraft imported into the United States as freight?

A3.      Other than as provided in § 173.220, aircraft components that are damaged or do not remain installed must meet the specific packaging provisions of the regulations for the hazard they present.  If this is not possible, a deviation from the HMR that provides an equivalent level of safety may be applied for under the exemption procedures in § 107.105. In addition, some aircraft components contain articles or materials that may require Competent Authority or Associate Administrator approval when transported to, through, or from the United States in commerce.  Some of these items are chemical oxygen generators (spent or otherwise), portable breathing equipment (PBE), and explosives (e.g., seat ejection systems).  See § 172.102 Special Provision 60 and §§ 173.56 and 173.301.

I hope this information is helpful.  If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact this office.

Sincerely,

Edward T. Mazzullo

Director

Office of Hazardous Materials Standards

173.220

Regulation Sections